The UCSB campus offers a wide range of experience for ChE students. Here we consider four broad categories:

 

• Study or work abroad
• Employment opportunities
• Research opportunities
• Engineering societies
  

 

Study or work abroad

The UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) offers study opportunites in 35 countries. The duration can be a year, a quarter or two, or a summer. With proper planning, your study abroad will not delay your graduation date. In recent years, our students have benefitted by studying in a variety of countries that include Chile, England, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sweden. For more information, see the EAP web site.

 

A non-profit organization (IAESTE) offers summer internships abroad for science and engineering students. For more information, contact the local student chapter.

Justin Butler performs research on new catalysts in Professor Susannah Scott's lab.

 

Research Opportunities

ChE students can gain research experience both on-campus and off-campus.

 

On-campus. The ChE 196 and 198 courses allow students to gain both research experience and course credit. (However, a 3.0 GPA during the three previous quarters is required.) Some faculty members in science and engineering departments have undergraduate students participate in their research programs. These arrangements are made on an individual basis. A UG research web site serves as a clearinghouse for research opportunities at UCSB, as well as other campuses.

 

Off-campus. Summer research internships are available at other schools and national laboratories. For more information, see the web sites for Career Services and two national organizations, AIChE and ASEE.

 

Employment Opportunities
The Office of Career Services arranges campus interviews and acts as a clearinghouse for information concerning permanent employment and summer internships. Information about summer internships is also avaiable from AIChE and ASEE.

 

Student Engineering Societies

These societies provide a great opportunity to learn more about the engineering profession, while meeting people and having fun. Typical activities include guest speakers, plant tours, and information about job opportunies and what to expect in job interview.

 

For ChE students, the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is the most relevant engineering society. Other popular student societies include:
Society of Women Engineers, Los Ingeneiros, National Society of Black Engineers, and Engineers without Borders.

EWOB-UCSB project in Araypallpa, Peru

Engineers without Borders (EWB) sponsors projects in developing countries where appropriate technology can maie a difference in peoples’ lives. In recent years UCSB engineering students have installed solar panels for lighting and performed water and sanittion assessments in a remote Peruvian village For more information, click on the EWB web site.

 

These groups are only a few of many excellent student engineering organizations.