From Academia to Industry: Exploring ASPIRE Student Internships
One valuable component of the college student experience is the opportunity to participate in internships. These offer glimpses into the industry sector, while providing hands-on experiences to prepare students to enter the workforce. At ASPIRE, students develop key skills through their research, then expand them through internship opportunities.
“At ASPIRE, we’re committed to preparing undergraduate and graduate students across our consortium of universities for impactful careers,” said ASPIRE’s Director of Innovation Don Linford. “Through collaborative research projects, students gain technical and viable skills that directly align with the needs of our industry and innovation partners. These experiences not only position students for meaningful internships but also serve as a launchpad for long-term employment. Our expansive Industry and Innovation Board helps ensure that students are connected with organizations seeking talent across related fields.”
Mackay Baugh, an ASPIRE student who recently completed an internship at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory, experienced this first-hand.
“On my first day at ASPIRE, I was given a technical challenge that was unknown to all involved,” Baugh said. “This actually prepared me because this was a similar circumstance to my internship; I was handed a project that had many unknowns and was asked to develop a system and perform to that system.”
Preparing with Soft Skills
In addition to technical skills and expertise, ASPIRE students develop soft skills that allow them to succeed in their internships, said Master’s student Chandler Justice, who is currently wrapping up an internship with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
“Events such as the annual meeting prepared me for formal presentations of my research,” he said. “I had often taken for granted that aspect of academic and professional communication, where I have authored publications and been involved in multidisciplinary teams at ASPIRE, which prepared me to effectively communicate with my mentors and researchers at LANL.”
These and other skills are imperative to develop, no matter the location of the internship or research opportunity.
“One key skill that any research role — or any job for that matter — requires is problem solving,” said Sanat Poddar, a recent ASPIRE Ph.D. graduate who spent a summer interning for Texas Instruments. “At ASPIRE, I was exposed to plenty of relevant and challenging problems, while also receiving the necessary help and guidance needed to solve them.”
An Expanded Experience
While several of the skills acquired at ASPIRE are transferrable to other positions, internships offer unique insights into the industry sector, with new skills and opportunities readily available to students.
One of these lessons is the chance to consider products from a client’s perspective, according to WSP USA, Inc., Intern Abdullah Al Mehadi, a Ph.D. candidate at ASPIRE.
“In academia, we often focus on meticulously developing methodologies under strict guidelines and complex scenarios,” he said. “However, at a leading engineering firm like WSP, I’ve learned how to make complex engineering concepts more digestible for clients, which is essential for project implementation.”
Undergraduate student Josh Christiansen agrees, remarking on the opportunity to discover the application aspect of technology through an internship.
“ASPIRE is focused on research, so the workflow there is different from developing products for customers in industry,” said Christiansen, an Electric Power Systems intern. “It’s been really interesting to see the same kinds of technologies that ASPIRE is researching being applied in real-world systems.”
Internships also offer a glimpse into the workings of an industry company, including how they accomplish their long-term goals, according to current Electronic Systems Intern Zainab Imran, an ASPIRE Ph.D. candidate who is interning at Cummins Inc.
“The most inspiring thing I have observed during my time here is the leadership’s strong influence in establishing the positive mindset towards goals and challenges,” she explained. “Cummins’ success heavily lies in its culture, which trickles down from the leadership through their deep involvement in and support of people and ideas.”
“Open New Doors to the Future”
Ph.D. candidate Mahyar Vahedi Saheli, who has interned at both the Utah Transit Authority and Fehr & Peers, says that internships “open new doors to your future”. His paved the way to his current employment at HDR Engineering Inc. as a railway engineer.
“There were so many skills, which weren’t always technical but were very useful, that I gained through those internships, so I definitely recommend all students complete an internship,” he said. “No matter where you’re at, it’s going to be a new, great experience, and you’re going to gain new skills from it while getting to know new people and expand your professional network.”
For any students who want to get involved with ASPIRE and explore future internship opportunities, reach out to Student Engagement Coordinator Melanie Conrad for more information.
About ASPIRE:
ASPIRE, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center headquartered at Utah State University, leads groundbreaking research and development to accelerate electrification. With over 400 global collaborators, ASPIRE focuses on creating seamless, affordable electrified transportation systems, accessible for all vehicle classes, along with the public infrastructure needed to support them. By reducing emissions, improving air quality, and fostering economic growth through job creation and workforce training, ASPIRE’s work spans engineering, social science, policy, and business. Partnering with top universities, industry leaders, and community groups, ASPIRE is driving the future of advanced transportation. Learn more at aspire.usu.edu.
Contacts:
Melanie Conrad
Student Engagement Officer
ASPIRE ERC
Don Linford
Director of Innovation
ASPIRE ERC
Writer:
Kayleigh Kearsley
Marketing & Communications Intern
ASPIRE ERC