Internships and co-ops are more than just a line on the résumé for University of Iowa College of Engineering students. They’re career boosters. 

In 2025, engineering students reported 120 professional experiences with 63 unique employers, ranging from industry giants like Collins Aerospace and John Deere to specialized firms such as MSA Professional Services and Skyworks Solutions. While these numbers only reflect self-reported data, they underscore that hands-on learning is shaping the future of Iowa engineers. 

"For our engineering students, internships and co-ops aren’t just about getting a job, they’re about discovering what kind of engineer they want to be,” said Kalindi Garvin, director of Engineering Career Services. “These experiences give them confidence, clarity, and a sense of purpose before they even graduate." 

Garvin has been strengthening relationships between students and employers to help encourage more of these opportunities. Garvin organizes the "employer of the week" and “career trek" initiatives. 

The treks bring students to Chicago, Des Moines, Minneapolis, and places closer to home, such as Cedar Rapids and Coralville, to tour companies and meet with alumni and recruiters in those areas. Meanwhile, the employer of the week spends time in the Seamans Center, interacting with students on their turf, through table displays, workshops, and informational sessions.

What's the difference between a co-op and internship? 

Co-op: A co-op is typically a longer term, paid work experience that relates to the students academic major. The experience is often the result of a formal program between employer and institution.

Internship: An internship is usually a short-term, often part-time position in which the student gains practical experience in a field. The position may be paid or unpaid and is typically informal. 

Students bring these opportunities to life through their experiences. Each internship and co-op represents a student stepping beyond the classroom and learning how to apply concepts and skills, whether designing infrastructure, innovating electronics, or coding for climate science.

Design accessible infrastructure

Thomas Blair, a civil and environmental engineering major from Dubuque, completed an internship with MSA Professional Services, balancing office design work with on-site observations. He contributed to ADA-compliant sidewalk plans and soccer field layouts using Civil3D, while visiting six active projects, including residential developments and road reconstructions.

“The support from my coworkers made all the difference,” Blair said. “They helped me through challenges and made the experience enjoyable.” Blair plans to return next summer with a stronger foundation in both design and fieldwork.

Coding from ocean to the sky

Star Tammes, a PhD candidate studying chemical and biochemical engineering, interned at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Federal Airfield in California's Silicon Valley. Tammes, who is from Elgin, Illinois, wrote software for SeaSTAR, a sun-tracking photometer that measures aerosols over oceans—critical for understanding climate and air quality. Field testing aboard NOAA’s R.V. Shearwater combined science with unforgettable moments. “We were bouncing along the waves, keeping the instrument locked on the sun, and suddenly surrounded by dolphins,” Tammes said.

Back in Iowa, Tammes works on NIGHTHAWK, an airborne imaging system that detects wildfires at night. “Both projects fill gaps in aerosol data,” Tammes said. “It’s rewarding to see your code drive real-world science."

'Never stop learning’

For Sydney Williams, a first-year master’s student in electrical and computer engineering, internships have been transformative. At Skyworks Solutions, the Cedar Rapids-native worked on RF electronics for mobile devices — designing multi-chip modules, troubleshooting coupling issues, and performing lab tests for S-Parameters and ruggedness.

“My top takeaway? Never stop learning,” Williams said. Williams now uses industry experience as a teaching assistant, helping integrate Cadence tools like OrCAD and PSpice into Iowa’s curriculum. “These tools prepare students for real-world challenges,” Williams said.