STEM
Connect With UsInternships, Research, and Jobs in STEM
Mary McManis ’17 interning at IBM in Austin, Texas.
- Innovation Scholars Program
- Norway Innovation Scholars
- Svoboda Entrepreneurial Scholars
- Summer Research at St. Olaf (CURI)
- Independent Research at St. Olaf
- Directed Undergraduate Research (DUR)
- St. Olaf On-campus Recruiting (roles in consulting, business analysis, and technology)
- Summer Research at Other Institutions (REU) (organized by discipline)
- SciTechsperience (paid internships in Minnesota)
- Mayo Clinic: Research and Lab Internships (SURF, UREP, lab science, biostatistics, etc.)
- Statistics Internships (various, promoted through the American Statistical Association)
- QSURE – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (biostats research internship)
- Department of Energy National Laboratories (internships at 17 locations)
- Department of Energy Scholars Program (various roles in D.C. and other locations)
- National Renewable Energy Lab (internships, research, jobs)
- Sandia National Laboratories Internships
- Fermilab (high energy physics)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Research Internships and Scholarships
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Institute (biochemistry, plant biology, genetics, microbiology, ecology, and crop sciences)
- Internships at 3M
- Breakthrough Teaching Fellowship
- EXPLO
- Internships at the Minnesota Zoo
- Siemens Foundation PATH Fellowship (a global health opportunity for STEM students)
- Research Internships in Science and Engineering (Germany)
- Polaris Project 3-week field course in the Alaskan Arctic designed to provide undergraduate students field research experience
Learn more about internships, research opportunities, and fellowships or review the St. Olaf Internship Database to see where Oles have interned over the past five years.
- St. Olaf On-campus Recruiting (roles in consulting, business analysis, and technology)
- Department of Energy National Laboratories (post-bac jobs at 17 locations)
- Mayo Post-bacc Research Program (PREP)
- National Science Fellowship Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Archbold Internship Program (post-bac ecological research program)
- U.S. Department of Energy – Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship (various locations)
- The Knowles Fellowship (requires teaching license)
- Alternative Routes to Teaching Certification
- Teach for America
Seek out opportunities to explore your interests, gain valuable professional experience, and develop new skills through Student Employment.
What types of roles are there for students?
Check out the Student Employment Guide to learn about roles students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. There are a wide variety of opportunities!
Here are a few examples:
- Greenhouse worker, animal care assistant with the Biology department, stockroom and lab assistants with Biology and Chemistry departments
- Teaching assistant (various departments), tutor, or Supplemental Instruction Leader with the Center for Advising and Academic Support
- Information Technology and Digital Scholarship Intern positions with St. Olaf Libraries
Student Employment Resources
Student Employment Job Board – this is the best resource for identifying current openings on campus. Occasionally, departments will also share opportunities on Handshake.
Student Employment Guide – this guide includes many of the positions that students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. If you see a position you are interested in, but do not see it posted as a current opportunity on the Job Board you may wish to reach out via email or by stopping in to the office to learn more about the role and hiring process.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 50 STEM Careers
- Career Trends: Exploring Careers Beyond the Bench (Journal of Science)
- Nature Careers (international journal in science)
- Minnesota High Tech Association
- Women Leading in Technology (WLiT)
- MN Science Teachers Association
- National Science Teaching Association
Mathematics:
- American Mathematical Society Opportunities
- St. Olaf Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)
- Additional Math Resources (Bronwynn Woodsworth ’21, and St. Olaf AWM)
- Job Hunters Bible (Tips on Job Searching)
- Careers Using Math (We Use Math)
Biology
- Best Jobs for Graduates With a Biology Degree
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Student Internships and Jobs
Chemistry
- American Chemical Society Career Resources
- Explore Over 40 Careers in the Chemical Sciences
- Chemistry Research, Internships, and Other Opportunities for Undergraduates
Computer Science
- Software Development Career Guide
- Computer Science Scholarships
- US Bureau of Labor Info: Software Developers
Psychology
- Where Can I Work With a Psychology Degree?
- Careers in Psychology American Psychological Association (APA)
- Guides on Getting Into Graduate School
- Search APA-accredited Doctoral, Internship and Postdoctoral Residency Programs
Physics/Engineering
- American Institute of Physics (AIP) Physics Career Toolbox
- St. Olaf College Physics
- Employment Data for Physicists, Astronomers and Related Scientists
- Engineering Research for Undergraduates (National Science Foundation)
- Guide to Getting an Engineering Job
- The Truth About Finding Your First Engineering Job
- Profile of St. Olaf Physics Majors – Career Path After Bachelors Degree
Statistics and Data Science
- American Statistical Association website (Info on careers in statistics)
- American Statistical Association Job Web and membership info
- Minne Analytics /Women in Analytics & Data Science (MinneWiADS)
- Job Board for Data Science in Minnesota
- Applying for Master’s in Data Science and Business Analytics
Education
Learn more HERE
Coaching and Resources
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers can include everything from lab science to software development to engineering, as well as other careers that require a strong background in science. Professionals in these fields work in labs, clinics, offices, and classrooms.
The Piper Center is eager to support you in finding internships, research and jobs in STEM. Please stop by the Piper Center anytime during business hours to have an initial conversation with a Peer Advisor. When you are ready to go further and meet with our STEM career coaches, Dr. Paul Edwards (primary) or Nate Jacobi (secondary), please schedule an appointment through Handshake.
Piper Center Events
Paul Edwards (he, him, his)
Associate Director of Career Development and Coaching, STEM
Nathan Jacobi (he, him, his)
Senior Associate Director, Career Development, Data and Operations
Alumni in the Spotlight
Forensic researchers aim to give weight to slivers of evidence
Can a single thread found at a crime scene — or a fragment of wire found in the aftermath of a bomb explosion — be substantial evidence?
For six years, St. Olaf College summer researchers have been working to prove that the answer is “yes.”
Read More
Ole-Achievers: Branden Moriarity ’07
“My advice is to start doing research early, so find those summer research opportunities, or even the directed research that’s available at St. Olaf” -Branden
Watch Now
‘America’s Got Talent’ features St. Olaf physics professor and alumni
America’s Got Talent recently featured St. Olaf College Associate Professor of Physics Jason Engbrecht and alumni Bryce Danielson ’11 and Christian Weeks ’13 for their knack for thinking outside the box.
Learn more
The impact of a global education
“Traveling abroad really changes the way you think, especially if you have the right mindset. Voting is a luxury. So is water,” says Brynna Freitag ’18.
Explore
Three St. Olaf students selected as Rossing Physics Scholars
Health Care in the Heartland
The Princeton Review ranks St. Olaf in the Top 10 for best classroom experience, science lab facilities
