Reigniting innovation: Andrew Walz on bridging industry and research with Purdue University’s online Doctor of Engineering

With more than 20 years of experience in engineering and medical technology, Andrew Walz achieved what many might consider the pinnacle of success. As senior director of research and development program management at Alcon, a global eyecare company, he oversaw multimillion-dollar projects and global teams. Still, he felt a familiar pull — the desire to keep learning and to bridge the gap between industry and research.    

After earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, Walz wasn’t entirely sure what came next. That uncertainty would eventually lead him back to academia, and ultimately to Purdue University’s online Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.) program, where he found a way to blend professional leadership with purposeful research.   

In his early career, Walz hadn’t even considered the possibility of entering the medical field. After graduating, he continued to follow his love for the outdoors to the Sierra Nevada mountains, where he spent five years living in Tahoe, working in civil engineering while also serving on the local ski patrol.    

“That was the first time I was exposed to the medical world,” he shared. “I wasn’t going to go back to medical school, but I thought maybe I could steer my career toward medical devices.”   

Walz began graduate study at Stanford and joined a small Bay Area startup called PowerVision, which was developing an accommodating intraocular lens implant designed to restore natural focus for cataract patients.  After the startup was acquired by Alcon in 2019, Walz stayed through the transition and advanced into program leadership roles overseeing multiple research portfolios. Even as his career accelerated, Walz never lost interest in research. The further he advanced into management, the more he missed the intellectual side of engineering, stating it was “like an itch he couldn’t scratch.”     

He began looking for a doctoral program that would fit his professional life. Traditional PhD programs required full-time, in-person research commitments that were impossible for a senior leader with a family. Walz enrolled briefly in another university’s Doctor of Engineering program but soon realized he wanted something more flexible and research driven. When Purdue University announced its online Doctor of Engineering program, he immediately felt it was the right fit.   

“Purdue’s program checked all the boxes,” he said. “The curriculum was more customizable, the research emphasis was stronger and the catalog for distance learners was much deeper.”   

Walz joined Purdue’s inaugural D.Eng. cohort in January 2025 and quickly saw the difference. The structure, communication and support from faculty and staff impressed him from the start. Core courses in the first semester helped him connect with advisors, refine his research focus and balance academic work with career obligations.    

“I didn’t need a lot of hand-holding, but the orientation and research development courses helped me get my footing,” he shared. “It felt like the university was genuinely invested in our success.”   

For Walz, the program’s defining strength is how it blends academic study with professional application.    

“The Doctor of Engineering program sits right at the intersection of those two worlds,” he said. “It’s not academic study for the sake of study. It’s applied. It’s about translating research into something that benefits industry and society.”   

His research interests reflect that philosophy. After years leading large, distributed engineering teams, Walz has become increasingly fascinated by how organizational processes influence innovation. He hopes to use his findings to improve collaboration and decision-making within Alcon’s global R&D network.    

“It’s the first time in my career where I can imagine my research leading to tangible change within my organization,” Walz said. “It’s exciting to know the work I’m doing for my doctorate could directly make us better at what we do.”   

Balancing a senior leadership role, coursework and family life is challenging, but Walz described it as deeply rewarding. According to Walz, “learning doesn’t have to stop because your career is established.”   

Reflecting on his journey — from ski patrol and startups to leading global research programs — Walz views Purdue’s Doctor of Engineering program as more than a credential. It reignited the intellectual curiosity that first led him to engineering.   

“Purdue has made it possible to [carve out space for the things I love] while still contributing meaningfully to the industry I love.”   

For professionals considering their next step, Walz offered a simple reflection:    

“If you’re looking for a program that challenges you, supports you and lets you apply what you learn in real time, this is it,” he said. “The Doctor of Engineering program at Purdue has been exactly what I was hoping for. It’s pushed me to think bigger and it’s already changing how I approach my work.”   

To learn more about Purdue’s online Doctor of Engineering visit the program’s webpage.