Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Internships and Cooperative Education

Internships

During the freshman and sophomore years, intern opportunities in industry are limited. After the sophomore year, more industrial internships become available. The Fall and Spring Career Fairs are excellent opportunities to pursue job opportunities.

There are many opportunities for summer work with various governmental agencies, both state and federal. Since many of these agencies do not recruit on campus, Engineering Career Services maintains an up-to-date file of opportunities.

The Engineering Career Services Website is: http://www.eng.iastate.edu/ecs/.

The experience gained from either program exposes students to the application of the principles studied in the classroom to industrial settings and may make subsequent course work more meaningful to the student. This can be helpful to students in choosing their career path.

Also, students are paid as engineers in training, which helps to pay educational expenses. Students that have relevant work experience receive more offers and higher offers when searching for a permanent position after graduation. However, this does lengthen the time to graduation and may have possible limitations in participating in some outside activities.

http://www.eng.iastate.edu/prospective/internships.asp

Cooperative (Work-School) Program

The Chemical & Biological Engineering Department conducts a cooperative program with a number of chemical processing companies. The program provides an opportunity for students enrolled in chemical engineering to gain practical experience while working toward their Bachelor’s degree. Co-op work arrangements are with companies located throughout the US, but the majority are in Iowa and Minnesota.

The five-year program calls for alternate semesters of school and work experience. Students beyond the first semester of their freshman year can become co-op students. Offers of employment are made by the participating companies after interviews with the students.

Affiliated Companies

Companies recruiting at ISU for co-ops and internships include the following:

  • 3M
  • Andersen Windows
  • Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
  • Archer Daniels Midland Company
  • Boston Scientific Corporation
  • Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
  • Cargill, Incorporated
  • Caterpillar Inc.
  • Cedar River Paper, A Weyerhaeuser Business
  • CEMEX INC.
  • Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
  • ConAgra Foods, Inc.
  • Energizer
  • Environmental Resource Group
  • General Mills
  • Halliburton
  • Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies
  • Lyondell/Equistar Chemicals
  • Maytag Corporation
  • Mercury Marine
  • Micron Technology Inc.
  • MidAmerican Energy Company
  • Monsanto Company
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratories
  • Pella Corporation
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Progressive Insurance
  • Shell Oil Company/Shell Services
  • Stryker Medical Systems
  • Trane Company
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • United States Gypsum Company

We are very excited to be part of the new directions in chemical engineering here at Iowa State, and we encourage you to check us out and join us!