Students
Choose Your Own Adventure
WHY SCALE?
Students are the foundation and future of the microelectronic workforce.
The SCALE student experience empowers each student to map their journey - from early college experiences through graduate school and/or the workplace.
SCALE Students Advantages include:
Gaining exclusive access to a large number of internship and career opportunities in both government and industry via the SCALE job board
Opportunities to conduct research during the academic year and summer with faculty
Connecting with students, faculty, and SCALE partners across the country through in-person and virtual events
Enhancing their technical knowledge and skills through targeted special topic courses
Access to SCALE-exclusive content and tools on nanoHUB
Developing professional skills, including technical writing and presentations, resume and interview preparation, and leadership and teamwork
Establishing a professional network with employers who are hiring in areas of strong national need
Engaging in focused senior design projects
Targeted scholarships
Receiving mentoring support for technical and career growth
Membership in SCALE for Life Alumni Association
JOINING SCALE
Taking the first step on your SCALE journey.
Eligibility Requirements
US Citizen
Undergraduate or Graduate Student
GPA of 2.8 (out of 4) or greater
Eligible Majors
Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Cybersecurity
Digital Forensics
Electrical Engineering
First-Year Engineering
Forensics
Industrial Engineering
Interdisciplinary Engineering
Intelligent & Systems Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Materials Engineering
Materials Science
Mathematics/Statistics/Infomatics
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Physics/Engineering Physics
STORIES
Student Placement
SCALE's first cohorts have begun to enter the workplace. SCALE has built an extensive public-private-academic partnership to assist students and employers in finding suitable matches for specialists in each area of SCALE, ranging from internships for first-year undergraduates to Ph.D. job placements.
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Zach Ellis
Zach Ellis was a senior electrical and computer engineering major at Purdue University with an interest in chip design when he was introduced to the SCALE program (Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement). The defense sector semiconductor workforce development program, led by Purdue and funded by the Department of War, provided a rare opportunity to learn more about the research pipeline for chip design that has helped shape his career trajectory.
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Jacob Manion
Jacob Manion’s world just grew exponentially. With his recent experience in the Purdue University-led national SCALE program (Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement) to complement his newly minted bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering, he’s gotten off to a running start in a career with vast opportunities. In July, Manion started a new adventure in Austin, Texas, as a physical design engineer for Ericsson, an international information and communication technology company.
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Hana Wong
Hana Wong is a participant in SCALE, the premier U.S. program for semiconductor workforce development in the defense sector. Now a junior at Purdue, Wong began her electrical engineering major by successfully managing 18 credit hours per semester in her first year. Since then she has worked for NASA and General Electric, and in 2023, she’ll carry her SCALE acumen with her when she takes on two more choice internships — the first at Tesla this spring, then a summer stint at Intel.
STUDENT RESOURCES
Unleashing student potential.
With SCALE membership, students have access to:
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Government and industry partners post microelectronics-related internships, co-op positions, and early-career opportunities targeted to SCALE students on the SCALE job board. Access is limited to SCALE students and employers, and positions are continuously announced and updated throughout the year.
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A mentor can have a significant impact on the career of a young engineer or scientist. A mentor provides guidance, support, and valuable insights that can help students navigate their academic and professional journeys. Mentors can offer practical advice on research opportunities, course selection, internships, and career paths, helping students make informed decisions. Mentors can increase students’ professional networks, opening doors to job opportunities. This relationship enables personal and professional growth, equipping students with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the microelectronics field.
Each SCALE student can join a mentoring circle, which offers mentors at various levels: near peers (students at the same or slightly advanced level), graduate students, faculty members, and industry or government technical experts. These mentors provide unique value to students at different stages of their academic journey.
SCALE mentoring programs include:
SCALE Up - government and industry professional engineering mentors
SCALE Graduate Network - graduate student mentors across all SCALE institutions
SCALE Mentee Training
SCALE Summer Research Programs
SCALE Academic Year Research
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The SCALE Individual Development Plan is a tool to help students identify and meet specific goals. The three main purposes of the IDP are:
Help students track their development with the SCALE Certification Program
Help students organize their short and long-term goals within the SCALE Program
Help facilitate a bi-annual or yearly meeting between the student and their SCALE advisor/mentor to discuss the activities
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The SCALE Web App is a database of student and mentor data that fosters connections between students and potential employers. By searching criteria such as graduation year, major, or previous experiences, employers utilize the Web App to reach out to students that may fit their hiring needs. Students can track their progress through SCALE by updating their profiles with work experiences, degree plans, research projects, and their Individual Development Plan (IDP).
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Three Experiences and Perspectives
SCALE students share the influence their membership has had on their research, academic, and career opportunities. SCALE enables students to build networks and benefit from a community of practice.
Here’s What Our Students are Saying
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"I really enjoyed my summer at Sandia National Laboratories. Between the hands-on research opportunities, engaging internship events, and beautiful New Mexican hikes, I learned a lot and had an absolute blast!"
—Chloe Champage, Vanderbilt
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“Seth's most recent internship experience was at Axiom Space where he created the Caution & Warning button panel button interface for Axiom Station, the world's first commercial space station. He also had two internships as a DoD Contractor for the Air Force Research Laboratory - Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL-RV), where he designed various machine learning models for satellite and robotics applications. Seth is also a session organizer for the 2025 IEEE Aerospace Conference for "Resilient and Cyber Secure Systems for Mission Operations".”
— Seth Kricheff
