Student Engagement and Educational Research Opportunities College of Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University has creative and flexible thinkers, researchers, and makers who solve real-world problems. The College of Engineering provides industry partners with access to highly-trained engineering students who will work with you to find innovative solutions and ideas that benefit your company. These engagements are excellent opportunities to partner with a team of skilled engineering students who, with faculty oversight and an industry technical lead, will tackle real-world challenges or an area of interest specified by your business. At the same time, these student engagements can yield recruitment opportunities.
Partner Benefits
• Access to highly trained students for problem-solving
• Recruitment opportunities (both full-time and internships)
• Access to faculty
• Rapid prototyping
• Licensing options
• Company visibility
• Participation in final student presentations
Requirements for Companies
• Must have a well-defined problem or idea
• Sign a sponsorship agreement or an Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA)
• Provide financial support for the opportunity
• Provide technical support/mentorship for student team meetings
• Participate in meetings and final presentations
Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Capstone Design Projects
WHEN: Fall and spring
TEAMS: 1 – 3 students
LOCATION: Pittsburgh
The senior undergraduate capstone design project teaches biomedical engineering students how to develop products that have a real-life impact on human health. Students learn how to identify product needs and assess potential obstacles, and then achieve their goals through creative project development and management. Each team is assigned a TA to oversee their work.
PROJECT LEAD
Conrad Zapanta Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Engineering
Teaching Professor, Biomedical
Engineering czapanta@andrew.cmu.edu
Electrical and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Capstone Design Project
WHEN: Fall or spring
TEAMS: 3 students
LOCATION: Pittsburgh
Every semester, ECE offers a senior-level undergraduate Design Experience Course. As part of this class, students teams work over the semester to develop interdisciplinary capstone projects. The students start from a blank slate, developing a problem statement, and iterate through the design process to build a working project under several real-world constraints.
Industry partners’ interests are advertised with students, including technical challenges. Partners have the opportunity to propose a student project, or choose a student team and capstone project to support. Companies have the option to offer a technical liaison who interacts with students. The company also participates in a capstone presentation with all students.
CONTACT Ellen K. Hughes Director of Research Partnerships, College of Engineering ellenh@cmu.edu
Electrical
and Computer Engineering Independent Project
WHEN: Fall, spring, or summer
TEAMS: 1 – 3 students
LOCATION: Pittsburgh
Undergraduate and master’s students of all levels of expertise are encouraged to be involved in research projects, transferring theoretical concepts they learn in class to hands-on experiences. Industry partners can pitch project ideas or sponsor projects.
Company projects are advertised to all eligible students. Sponsors can review the resumes of applicants and then select student(s) to work on a project. It is optional for student(s) to interact with a sponsor liaison at least once a week. Companies can also opt to require a student internship.
CONTACT Ellen K. Hughes Director of Research Partnerships, College of Engineering ellenh@cmu.edu
Information
Networking Institute (INI) Practicum
WHEN: Fall
TEAMS: 3 – 5 students
LOCATION: Silicon Valley
Through the practicum experience, teams of INI master’s students in information networking, security, mobile, and IoT engineering collaborate with industry sponsors to tackle problems, pilot new ideas, and establish proof-of-concept for top companies, agencies, and organizations. These projects span a variety of topics in computing, mobile systems, and security, and range from fundamental research to software development.
CONTACT Sarah Gaal Director of Strategic Relations, Information
Networking Institute sgaal@andrew.cmu.edu
Integrated Innovation Institute (III), Master of Integrated Innovation of Products and Services (MIIPS),
Integrated Product Development (IPD) Project
WHEN: Spring
TEAMS: Up to 6 students
LOCATION: Pittsburgh
By sponsoring Integrated Product Development projects, companies will be provided with a refined product or service concept that they could bring to market. Teams of cross-functional master’s students work on a well-defined problem, bringing to companies a blend of design ingenuity, engineering acumen, and business skills, all with a specific focus on innovation. The team interacts with a dedicated sponsor contact/project champion to assure proper direction.
CONTACT Jenny Hurst
Associate Director of Corporate Outreach and New Engagement, Integrated Innovation Institute jennyhur@andrew.cmu.edu
Material
Science and Engineering Senior Capstone Design Project
WHEN: Fall and spring
TEAMS: 3 – 4 students
LOCATION: Pittsburgh
Corporate partners can work with a team of undergraduate seniors on a sponsor-defined, materials-related problem. Companies must assign an engineer or scientist to serve as a company liaison who will assist the team through the process. Project work can be done at the sponsor’s site, at CMU, or some combination of both as dictated by the needs of the project.
CONTACT Robert Heard
Teaching Professor, Materials Science and Engineering rheard@andrew.cmu.edu
More information contact:
Lenna Cominos Senior Director of Corporate Relations College of Engineering
cominos@cmu.edu
engineering.cmu.edu/student-engagement-opportunities