STEP PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• The Science, Technology, Engineering Program (STEP) offers Columbia students high quality internship experiences in a diverse array of engineering fields including biomedical, civil, chemical, computer engineering, computer science, earth and environmental, electrical, engineering management, industrial, mechanical and operations research through alumni and employer partnerships developed by the Center for Career Education (CCE).

Program Features

STEP provides students with full time work experience over the summer.  STEP enables students to connect with Columbia alumni, network with professionals and learn about careers in science, technology & engineering. Program features include the following: 

• Optional Mock Interviews with CCE counselors to prepare students for a formal interview process
• Pre-Program Training which includes pre-program overview, internship guidance, goal setting and more
• Summer Internship June 2012- August 2012 (dates to be finalized and determined based on employer requirements and needs)
• Housing Recommendations
• Alumni Mentoring which will provide personal and professional guidance and support throughout the summer 
• End of Program "Reflection Session" that includes evaluation of the internship experience, goal attainment analysis and larger career development discussion

Program Benefits

Upon completion of STEP, students will have gained substantive work experience and developed key professional and engineering practical skills. Students will have had opportunities to network with professionals and Columbia alumni. With the support of a career counselor, students will also be able to reflect upon their internship and articulate their experiences to highlight key transferable skills.

Opportunities

Please note that STEP 2012 is officially open and accepting applications!  All STEP 2012 internships will be posted on a rolling basis in LionSHARE in the Job Search section throughout the Fall of 2011.  To search for the following internships in LionSHARE, keyword search “CCESTEP." 

See HERE for summer 2012 CCESTEP internship opportunities.

*NEW FOR STEP 2012 - If you received and accepted an offer with a position that is not labeled as “CCESTEP” on LionShare or was not posted on Lionshare for the summer of 2012, you are still eligible to apply for STEP.  Please complete the following application requirements.

Previous STEP Positions:

• Buro Happold- Civil, Electrical, Sustainable Development
• Brooklyn Motorized Corporation - Mechanical Engineering
• Bug Labs - Java Developer                           
• Department of Transportation- Alternative Fuel, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Traffic Management
• ECI Technology - Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering Internships
• FactSet - Programming Technologies Internship                        
• Hazen and Sawyer - Civil or Environmental
• Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
• Integral Derivatives LLC - Software Development
• Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research- Biomedical Research 
• MediaMerx- Software Engineering     
• R3 Energy-Management Internship         
• VMWare- Software Engineering

2011 Interns

Kristina Bebedzakova Mechanical Engineering "Being in the STEP program for me was not only about getting work experience, but it was also about figuring out exactly what I would like to do after graduation (and what I wouldn't want to do). I met a lot of people which have all impacted me in different ways. The STEP program showed me which questions regarding my career I should be asking myself as I approach graduation, and it allowed me to begin answering these questions for myself as I transition from being a student to finally being in the workforce and applying all the skills that I have gained over the past four years.   My mentor for the STEP program was PJ Louis and I am happy to say that he still continues to be my mentor even after the STEP program ended. He has made me more aware of which qualities and characteristics employers look for in their potential employees. His support and guidance has been crucial to how I will be pursuing my career goals, as it is always beneficial to hear from someone who deals with recent graduates on a daily basis, but from the other side of the spectrum - as an employer. His insight and support were indispensable during my internship."

Andrew Altamirano Civil Engineering "My summer experience through STEP was absolutely fantastic. While interning at Weidlinger Associates, I gained hands-on knowledge of the structural engineering field through current projects at the company. The internship solidified my desire to work for a structural consulting firm after graduating because of the breadth of projects one can work on. CCE did a great job helping to ease my anxieties before the beginning of the internship through training sessions that taught me how to make the most of the summer. As a STEP student, I was also able to be matched with an industry mentor who helped me out tremendously. We met throughout the entire summer to check in and make sure I was making the most of my experience, and we’ll continue to keep in touch in the future."

Information Sessions:

Tuesday, November 29th 2011 5:00pm-6:00pm, CCE Conference Room
Thursday, December 8th 2011 12:00pm-1:00pm, CCE Conference Room
Monday, January 23rd 2012 5:00pm-6:00pm, CCE Conference Room

Apply Now 

Program Contacts

If you have questions about this program, please contact:

Jill Burya
Assistant Director, Experiential Education & Student Enterprises
jb3412@columbia.edu

Patrick Smith
Senior Associate Director, Outreach
ps2211@columbia.edu