Alumni

Michigan Tech has decades long tradition of placing graduates to rail industry careers. Since Rail Transportation Program was established more than 100 Michigan Tech graduates have started their employment in the industry.RTP alumni work for various industry companies, including Class I and smaller freight railroads, passenger railroads, engineering consultants and rail contractors, manufacturers, and DOTS. Our alumni often participate by supporting our programming. Examples for how Alumni can continue to be involved in RTP programming: organizing on-site field trip visits, providing student research project ideas and involvement, providing scholarship support, giving presentations.

We welcome our alumni to keep in touch! Let us know what you are doing. Please fill the Alumni Feedback Form or send an email to rtp@mtu.edu. We can share your news!

RTP Alumni in Rail Industry

AECOM
I graduated from Michigan Tech with an MS in Civil Engineering in Summer 2014. While at Michigan Tech I conducted my Master’s research under Dr. Pasi Lautala, focused on multimodal options in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I also participated in REAC and other rail related activities at MTU. After interning at Engineered Rail Solutions (ERS) in Illinois, I joined the transit team in AECOM’s Minneapolis Offices as a Track Design Engineer.
Manager of Mechanical Maintenence, UPRR
Victoria is a 2012 graduate with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. In June of 2012 she began work for Union Pacific Railroad as an Operations Management Trainee (OMT). When her training is complete Victoria will become a Manager of Mechanical Maintenance. “I had not thought about working for the railroad until visiting the Career Fair at Michigan Tech. After talking to the representative from Union Pacific and looking into their program, my interest grew."
CSX Transportation
I graduated in 2014 with a BS in Civil Engineering and then accepted a management trainee position with CSX, working towards a Roadmaster position.  I completed my training in September 2015, and was assigned to the Chicago Division as an Assistant Roadmaster.   I recently applied for a Roadmaster position on the New Rock subdivision, and will be taking over that territory in February 2016.
CMMS Coordinator, Loram
Beau is a 2011 graduate with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. In 2010 he worked for a summer with Loram and decided to pursue a full time position after graduation. In 2011 he was hired at Loram and currently holds a position as a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Coordinator for the domestic fleet. “I started at Loram originally as a general laborer for a summer on a ballast cleaner; there is where my official interest in rail began in 2010. I needed a summer job and ended up enjoying my work so much that I began working for Loram full time in July of 2011."
Engineer Special Trackwork, Amtrak
I grew up in Vulcan, MI next to a Soo Line mainline, terrified of the freight trains that rolled by. I never would have imagined that years later I’d be standing just a few feet away from a high speed passenger train zooming along at 150 MPH nor that I’d enjoy making a career in the railroad industry. The summer of 2009 changed everything. On a whim, I talked to the BNSF recruiter at the Career Fair. I interned in Vancouver, WA with the Division Engineer and witnessed projects such as crossover installations, multi-track grade crossing renewal, and rail renewal programs.
EMH&T
Dave graduated in May, 2012 with a BS in Civil Engineering and has since been working with EMH&T (Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton, Inc.). “My great grandfather worked as a conductor and I have always enjoyed travel by train. One of the highlights of my youth is traveling via Amtrak from Chicago to San Francisco, so I have always had somewhat of a sleeping interest in the industry. The unique program at Michigan Tech helped renew that interest, and with the exposure and education I received it became apparent that the rail industry was for me."
Project Manager II - PTC wayside Signals, CSX Transportation
If I’m being honest, I hadn’t considered working in the rail industry until my senior year at Michigan Tech.  Growing up in small town Wisconsin, there were railroad tracks that ran through the woods near my house, but that was the extent of my rail knowledge and interest.  

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Rail Transportation Program
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI. 49931-1295
 
Phone: 1-906-487-3547
Fax: 1-906-487-2943

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