MAE Career Counselor

Jay Riddell is the Graduate Career Counselor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University, where they support master’s and doctoral students in their professional development, career exploration, and mentoring connections. They are also a Ph.D. student in Counseling & Counselor Education at NC State and hold an M.Ed. in College Counseling and Student Development from NC State.

Jay previously held a two-year NIH Fellowship through the NC State Comparative Medicine Institute, working on the Teamwork in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research and Young Scholars Program (YSP). This fellowship was part of NIH-funded training grants supporting interdisciplinary team science in comparative molecular medicine and chemistry of life programs, designed to prepare graduate students for collaborative biomedical research.

Their research interests include graduate student mental health, first-generation student success, and mentoring in STEM. Jay is passionate about building programs and resources that help graduate students feel supported, connected, and prepared for diverse career pathways.

Services:

• One-on-one career advising appointments (resume reviews, job search strategies, etc.)
• Support with internship, co-op, and full-time job searches
• Assistance with CV, resume, and cover letter writing and editing
• Interview preparation and mock interviews
• Guidance on navigating career fairs and networking opportunities
• Help connecting with employers and alumni in relevant industries
• Information on fellowships, research positions, and funding opportunities
• Support with navigating career paths in academia, industry, or government
• Coordination of professional development events and workshops
• Help with building a LinkedIn profile or online portfolio