Engineering students in Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering complete a capstone design project or engage in project design courses during their academic pursuits. These projects, which may be done in teams, give students valuable experience solving real-world problems by using concepts that span several topic areas within their major. Companies now have the opportunity to sponsor student teams to tackle real-world problems from their businesses.
Sponsors bring in real-world problems from their businesses and support a team of creative, talented Carnegie Mellon University engineering students in developing solutions. Sponsoring an educational project provides a company with several important benefits, which include:
- the opportunity to assess student talent and to recruit for jobs
- a low-cost means to get a fresh look at a challenging problem, perhaps one that the sponsor does not have the resources to do in-house
- a nonexclusive commercial license to any project intellectual property developed by the student team
- an excellent professional development opportunity for a company employee who mentors a team
- the chance to get better acquainted with Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering and with the many other opportunities for industry engagement
Source: Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering
A CMU student works on his capstone design project.
Capstone design projects and project design courses allow students to experience the rigor and structure of a full-cycle design, including problem definition, benchmark studies, concept generation and feasibility study, engineering design analyses, and, in most cases, prototype fabrication and testing. Through this experience, students learn to fully define a design problem. This includes not only a statement of the project objectives and goals in the sponsor’s terms, but also a full definition of the agreed-upon functional requirements and constraints.
Depending on the program, participating educational project sponsors may pay a fee and designate a CMU employee to mentor the student team. The mentor helps the team understand the problem in depth and meets with the students weekly to keep them on track as the project progresses.
Sponsor involvement is essential to the success of the College of Engineering’s capstone and project design courses. Sponsors are expected to identify an industry liaison to serve as the team’s point-of-contact for the project. The more a sponsor is engaged and invested in the project, the more they will get out of this opportunity.
Which of our students are right for your company?
The College of Engineering currently offers a number of opportunities to sponsor capstone/course projects. More departments are expected to participate soon.
|
Program |
Semester(s) |
Degree: |
Agreement type |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fall and spring |
BS |
EPA |
|
|
Spring |
BS |
Sponsorship agreement |
|
|
Electrical and Computer Engineering Entrepreneurial Design Project |
Fall and spring |
BS / MS |
Sponsorship agreement |
|
Fall, spring, or summer |
MS |
Sponsorship agreement |
|
|
Fall |
MS |
EPA |
|
|
Spring |
MS |
EPA |
|
|
Material Science and Engineering (MSE) Senior Capstone Design Project |
Fall and spring |
BS |
EPA |
Biomedical Engineering (BME) Capstone Design Projects
The senior undergraduate capstone design project teaches biomedical engineering students how to develop products that have a real-life impact on human health. Students learn how to identify product needs and assess potential obstacles, and then achieve their goals through creative project development and management. Each team is assigned a TA to oversee their work.
- When: Offered during the fall and spring semesters
- Teams: One to three students
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Project Lead: Conrad Zapanta
Learn more about this opportunity.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Capstone Design Project
Every semester, ECE offers a senior-level undergraduate Design Experience Course. As part of this class, students teams work over the semester to develop interdisciplinary capstone projects. The students start from a blank slate, developing a problem statement, and iterate through the design process to build a working project under several real-world constraints.
Industry partners’ interests are advertised with students, including technical challenges. Partners have the opportunity to propose a student project, or choose a student team and capstone project to support. Companies have the option to offer a technical liaison who interacts with students. The company also participates in a capstone presentation with all students.
- When: Offered during the fall or spring semesters
- Teams: Three students
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Contact: Ellen K. Hughes
Learn more about this opportunity.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Independent Project
Undergraduate and master’s students of all levels of expertise are encouraged to be involved in research projects, transferring theoretical concepts they learn in class to hands-on experiences. Industry partners can pitch project ideas or sponsor projects.
Company projects are advertised to all eligible students. Sponsors can review the resumes of applicants and then select student(s) to work on a project. It is optional for student(s) to interact with a sponsor liaison at least once a week. Companies can also opt to require a student internship.
- When: Offered during the fall, spring, or summer semesters
- Teams: One to three students
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Contact: Ellen K. Hughes
Information Networking Institute (INI) Practicum
Through the practicum experience, teams of INI master’s students in information networking, security, mobile, and IoT engineering collaborate with industry sponsors to tackle problems, pilot new ideas, and establish proof-of-concept for top companies, agencies, and organizations. These projects span a variety of topics in computing, mobile systems, and security, and range from fundamental research to software development.
- When: Offered during the fall semester
- Teams: Three to five students
- Location: Silicon Valley
- Contact: Sarah Gaal
Learn more about this opportunity.
Integrated Innovation Institute (III), Master of Integrated Innovation of Products and Services, Integrated Product Development (IPD) Project
By sponsoring Integrated Product Development projects, companies will be provided with a refined product or service concept that they could bring to market. Teams of cross-functional master’s students work on a well-defined problem, bringing to companies a blend of design ingenuity, engineering acumen, and business skills, all with a specific focus on innovation. The team interacts with a dedicated sponsor contact/project champion to assure proper direction.
- When: Offered during the spring semester
- Teams: Up to six students
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Contact: Jenny Hurst
Learn more about this opportunity.
Material Science and Engineering Senior Capstone Design Project
Corporate partners can work with a team of undergraduate seniors on a sponsor-defined, materials-related problem. Companies must assign an engineer or scientist to serve as a company liaison who will assist the team through the process. Project work can be done at the sponsor’s site, at CMU, or some combination of both as dictated by the needs of the project.
- When: Offered during the fall and spring semesters
- Teams: Three to four students
- Location: Pittsburgh
- Contact: Robert Heard