Charles Lee Coates

Programmer developing Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions

.NET framework

"During my time at Purdue, I worked at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. At CERN, I worked on the project responsible for verifying the existence of the Higg’s Boson and therefore giving integrity to one of the biggest pieces of the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Without my time at Purdue, my ability to enter into the field so quickly would certainly have been inhibited."

What was your major/minor at Purdue and when did you graduate?

I graduated in 2012 with a major in Physics and a minor in Philosophy.

Was there one person at Purdue who shifted the course of your career?

Daniela Bortoletto was a professor at Purdue that completely changed my life. Dr. Bortoletto helped me accomplish my goal of working in particle physics and introduced me to many of the tools that I use today.

What were you most afraid of when you were about to graduate?

I was not too fearful. I did not have any job prospects, but I was with a wonderful partner and was about to get an awesome degree. My advice would be to just enjoy your time trying to figure out who you are.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on a cloud solution that gives local businesses and governments the ability to manage their resources effectively without having to sacrifice their identity to corporate financial institutions.

Because of my degree at Purdue, I have been able to pursue both science and entrepreneurship effectively together without having to start from scratch.

What would you tell students about how to make the best use of what Purdue offers?

The best way to take advantage of what Purdue offers is to figure out what you love and then let Purdue know about it. Get something started yourself or join a group doing what you love. Get moving and change the world. It’s easier at Purdue than at most other places.