Exploring opportunities in Chemical Engineering internships. Ready to dive into hands-on experience?

Internships expose you to the inner workings of chemical plants, research facilities, or corporate environments. This firsthand experience helps you understand how theoretical knowledge is applied in real-world settings. You'll gain proficiency in using state-of-the-art technology and equipment relevant to chemical engineering. This hands-on experience is crucial for developing practical skills that are highly sought after by employers. Working on real projects allows you to tackle complex problems that may not be covered in academic settings. This challenges you to think critically and apply your knowledge creatively.

We live in a world where massive changes are on-going. Societal challenges include climate change mitigation, climate change adaption, air pollution, water pollution and scarcity, just to cite a few. Chemical engineers are at the forefront for finding responses. For a chemical engineering student, internships is an opportunity to engage in actions for addressing these challenges. While knowledge is central, gaining perspective and understand how to drive change is not learned at universities. Internships are a first opportunity to get in touch with real life and understand what it takes to make an impact.

Internships require you to apply your academic knowledge to real-world problems. This practical application helps solidify your understanding of concepts and theories learned in the classroom. You'll have the opportunity to gain proficiency in using industry-standard software and tools like Aspen HYSYS, MATLAB, or others used for process simulation and data analysis. These technical skills are essential for performing tasks such as optimizing processes or analyzing experimental data.

Internship, as a learning experience, is two-fold. Firstly, one learns to handled tasks that are not well-defined. University laboratory excercises are so-well prepared that they are executed in few hours. During internships, students experience what it actually takes to make things work. They gain skills in planning and managing time. Secondly, it connects the out-come of the results to a broader contribution to science or engineering - relating to the "why" or motivation of the effort.

Building relationships with professionals in the field can provide valuable mentorship and guidance. Experienced engineers can offer insights into career paths, industry trends, and advice on navigating challenges. Strong relationships with supervisors and colleagues can lead to positive recommendations and references. These endorsements can enhance your credibility and competitiveness when applying for future jobs or educational opportunities. Networking can open doors to potential job opportunities both within the organization where you interned and elsewhere in the industry. Many entry-level positions are filled through referrals and networking, making it advantageous to have a strong professional network.

While many students want to do good and help respond to societal challenges, they can not act alone. Finding the right environment or community to act is crucial. Internships offer often the first opportunity to build a network and join a community of professionals. In particular, for discovering opportunities and build a professional base like obtaining ones first references.

As a Professor who recruits Chemical Engineering PhD students, gaining exposure to research while an undergrad gives applicants a strong advantage... but only if they leverage it. Simply adding a line about research to your resume isn't going to get you admitted to a PhD. The key is to understand how the skills you learned on your research - or any other internship - prepare you for the PhD, even if they're in a different area. Discuss, in detail, how you gained critical thinking and analytical skills and how you will apply them to your next role.

Internships offer the opportunity to work on pioneering projects led by researchers and PhDs. This exposure allows you to witness firsthand the application of advanced theories and technologies to solve real-world challenges in areas such as environmental sustainability, pharmaceuticals, materials science, and more. Internships provide hands-on experience conducting experiments, analyzing data, and contributing to the development of novel solutions. This practical experience is crucial for understanding the complexities and nuances of research in Chemical Engineering.

University labs are excellent hosts for internships since they are often open environments with focus on future solutions and place when trends are built. It is not uncommon that a student would work on an emerging topic and realize 20 years later that she/he has be contributing over her/his career to bring the solution to a larger scale.

University studies are often a rather "close" environment where young students interact mainly with peers of the same age. It is not always easy to make informed choices about career or future moves. Internships allow to broaden relationships by interacting with professionals of different age and career levels. It is an opportunity for personal development by realizing what the options are and what it takes. It is an invaluable time for making informed decisions and choices about the start of one's career and professional life. It is also a unique opportunity to build confidence and grow a sense of belonging to a community.