Our program trains students in the real-world knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in industry - and help you get there. We believe an advanced degree should help you land a job and prepare you for a successful career. Feedback from host companies has been overwhelmingly supportive of our unique system of education.

The program begins summer term with intensive course and lab work in one of four focus areas:

Photovoltaic & Semiconductor Device Processing
Optical Materials & Devices
Polymer Science 
Molecular Probes & Sensors

The course work and labs are designed to help students become more effective problem-solvers in the industrial environment. Emphasis is also placed on developing soft skills, such as communication (oral and written), team work and leadership - skills critical for a successful career in industry. Professional skills development is a centerpiece of the program, including resume writing, interviewing and networking.

Students who successfully complete the summer course work will have the opportunity to interview with partner companies. Students selected by our company partners will complete a 9-month paid internship. Internship salaries in recent years have ranged from $3000-$5400/mo. Though internships are not guaranteed, historically close to 98% of our students have successfully completed internships and close to 90% receive regular job offers within three months of finishing their internships.

This unique program is a good fit for students who want to begin a career in industry OR hope to gather more data before contemplating a Ph.D. If you think you may eventually pursue a Ph.D., this program allows you a chance to gain insight into industry and the myriad of opportunities it offers - and gather data as to what marketable skill set you might want to build in a doctoral program. Working in industry also allows you to build a network outside of academia to help you find a job when you graduate.

If you would like to contact and connect with a UCI alum, Samantha Ruelas at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory would be happy to share her experiences as a program materials scientist: sruelas@uoregon.edu. 

For more information at: http://internship.uoregon.edu