Mario MigliorinoFrom: Rome, ItalyStudies: Mechanical Engineering

Why did you choose Purdue?Initially, it was just random. I was still in Rome finishing my master’s when I received a message from one of my friends in the US. He put me in contact with a new professor at Purdue, I liked him, he liked me so I’m here and that professor is now my Ph.D. advisor. I liked every-thing about Purdue after I came in contact with it.

What is your favorite fact about Purdue?The fusion of cultures. It is really amazing how much I know more about the world after one year here. It’s like having a free trip to wher-ever you want depending on which local event you go to.

Please briefly describe your research: When you speak, not only you change the pressure of air periodically, but you also change its temperature in the same way. This also means that you can generate sound changing temperature of a device. Sound and temperature are always intercorrelated: this is Thermo-Acoustics.

Name one to three words that best describes your work?Cutting-edge, energy, fundamentals.

Where do you spend most of your time on campus?On the 4th floor of Wang Hall, where I work in an open office space.

If you have free time, how do you choose to spend it?I would go to one of the cultural events on campus, or to an interest-ing seminar, or to something fun around Purdue as first choice for a short break. For longer periods I would go few days visiting another city/region of the US.

Current mobile device/computer:Huawei Honor 5X/ Macbook Pro.

What apps, software, or tools can’t you live without?Texpad (LaTeX), SourceTree (git), Inkscape (figures).

What’s your workspace setup like?   I mainly work in an open office environment that has also focus booths in which you can close the door and isolate. I’m recently noticing that coffee shops, without headphones but with a big cappuccino, is some-thing that boosts my writing production and creativity.

What’s your best time-saving shortcut?Removing all sorts of notifications from any source while I work: I read my emails when I decide and I keep Facebook and phone on mute.

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without?My laser clicker for presentations. After you use one, you will never go back to the sitting-down-press-the-arrow mode of presenting.

What do you listen to while you work? When I have to focus on coding I like a closed office with loud music (no headphones): preferably something with some rhythm like elec-

tro-swing. I particularly like also Dire Straits while working for some reason.

I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions.Michio Kaku, of the living. Richard Feynman and Enrico Fermi.

What are you currently reading, or what is the last thing you read (aside from academic reading)? I love theater. My favourite authors are Samuel Beckett and Luigi Pirandello.

What’s your sleep routine like? It really depends. When I work at night, my mind can focus on repet-itive tasks/grunt work while early morning has an inspirational effect on me. So it depends on what I feel like doing and mostly on if I have a morning meeting.

How do you recharge physically and/or mentally?Mostly sleeping a lot. But when I’m awake I like to have a glass of wine on the couch in company. Sometimes I like to write poetry or theater.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?To listen more and speak less. When people talk you don’t always have to try to solve their problems but sometimes they just want to speak up and be listened to.

What is (are) your career goal(s)?Make a breakthrough in thermal energy management and clean en-ergy generation/efficiency while working with motivated, passionate and brilliant people.

Where can we find you on social media?https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-tindaro-mi-gliorino-b107367b

How Grad Students Work