Undergraduate Interns Network with Local Industry

On July 24th, 2018, the Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships and AIM Photonics hosted a lively Dinner with Industry for students in the PIPELINES, EUREKA, MARC, Gorman Scholars and AIM Future Leaders program as part of their summer research internship professional training programming. Twenty-three scientist and engineer representatives from local companies, as well as the Naval Facilities Command, were in attendance (Apeel, Brucker, C-Engineering, FLIR, Freedom Photonics, Implantech Associates, Invoca, Lockheed Martin, Karl Storz, Northrop Grumman, NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Owl Biomedical, Raytheon, SB Utilities). A number of former CSEP interns, now employed in industry, were also in attendance, to share their experiences after interning and their path to first employment. Professional networking events are an important component of community college and undergraduate training as they create an environment conducive to candid discussions about life and career goals. Based on past feedback, our students appreciate the opportunity to get answers to questions they would not otherwise know whom or when to ask. Often, this event is considered a highlight of their summer experience! Industry guests also report finding value in these events, as an opportunity to meet bright young scholars, and get important insights into the professional values and interests of today’s students.