Students are the future of the MTT-S and the IMS. Each year the Steering Committee takes seriously the need to provide a program that encourages the professional growth of its future leaders. Opportunities at IMS2011 include: a Student Reception, Student Volunteer opportunities, and Student Competitions.

Student Reception: A special reception will be held for all students on Thursday evening, June 9. The time and venue will be announced. This is a chance to meet your fellow students at other institutions and begin networking with your future colleagues.

Student Volunteer Opportunities: Most of the work done in running each year's IMS and the MTT-S is done by volunteers. As with most volunteer activities, the rewards are somewhat intangible, and yet many people have remained active for decades because they believe that it is a great way to give back to a profession they have found very intellectually rewarding. From a more pragmatic viewpoint, it is a great way to meet people you wouldn't otherwise and with the way the job market is, the more networking you do the more opportunities you will have (also, it is a great way to get free meals). If you are a student we enourage you to explore Volunteer Opportunities for IMS2011.

Student Competitions: A number of student events and competitions are held at the IMS each year. These consist of the student paper competition and a number of other design competitions, which vary from year to year. At the IMS2011, the following competitions will be held:

• Student Paper Competition: The student paper competition has become one of the largest events at the IMS. The purpose of the competition is to determine and acknowledge the best individual student work (see the list of requirements for eligibility) of the year in the MTT-S. Each student paper is subject to the regular review process by the Technical Program Review Committee (student papers must be submitted by the Dec. 3, 2010 deadline using the same process as any other contributed paper). Based on the review scores the best individual student papers are accepted as finalists. The finalists will be given complimentary registration for the IMS, complimentary tickets to the MTT-S Awards Banquet, and travel subsidies. The student finalists will present their papers at the appropriate regular sessions and make special presentations at the Interactive Forum where they will be evaluated by a group of judges. Six top papers and four honorable mentions will be selected to receive cash awards, certificates, and gifts. These will be announced and presented at the Student Awards Luncheon on Thursday.


• Student Design Competitions: The Technical Coordinating Committees of MTT-S sponsor several Student Design Competitions. To obtain further information, please follow this link.


• Graduate Student Challenge: This is a new competition that emphasizes creativity and teamwork. The winning team will receive a $2000 award and recognition at the IMS Closing Ceremony. The Challenge starts at 7:00 Tuesday, June 7.