Holly Edmundson
Year Graduated: 
2009

Senior Technical Project Manager

Onto Innovation

Job description

I oversee technical projects from R&D phase to production phase, creating metrology solutions for the semiconductor industry.

Why did you choose this program?

On a dare—I was challenged by someone to do something harder than his degree so I went with physics.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

Besides giving the fundamental physics knowledge that I would need, it built some problem-solving skills that are critical to working in the industry. The program pushed me to work harder and smarter, learn how to tackle new problems, and gave me new approaches to learning that have served me well.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

The faculty and staff are awesome. I never felt like I couldn't get help when I need it. It felt like more of a community than a department and I'm still very close with several of my classmates and a couple of my professors. My experience at the Grav Lab was a great opportunity both personally, academically, and professionally. It gave me a taste of what life would be like in an R&D position, which is what I love about my current job, too.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

Absolutely go for it. It's challenging but it is absolutely worth it. There are very diverse job prospects for someone with a physics background. I have been involved in hiring for a lot of positions and a physics background is preferred for many positions that may not be directly related because of the types of analytical skills a physics program fosters.

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