“When I was young and growing up on a small farm in Northeast Indiana, my uncle, a Purdue graduate, would visit and tell us about the work he was doing with Boeing,” says Corey Vian. “I was fascinated by the prospect that going to Purdue could open the same type of possibilities for me.”
Vian chose the Polytechnic based on the unique blend of practical and theoretical education promised by the curriculum. He excelled in his studies and focused his undergraduate research on aluminum casting processes with Qingyou Han, professor of engineering technology and director of the Purdue Center for Materials Processing Research. This research lead Vian to co- author three published technical articles prior to graduation, a total that has now risen to eight in his young career.
Vian entered the workforce as a floor engineer for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), but was quickly promoted to engineering group lead. Now serving FCA as the innovation lead for the casting division, Vian is responsible for multi- million-dollar, new-product launch projects while continually fostering and promoting an innovative work culture among his team.
Vian is pursuing his Ph.D. while continuing to work full-time. He sits on two Purdue advisory boards, serves as a limited-term lecturer for mechanical engineering technology, and is the project manager for FCA-funded manufacturing research projects on campus.
Vian lives in Noblesville, Indiana, with his wife, Wei, and their son, Leonardo.