Types of Professional Experience Available
Undergraduate Research
Each year, through the WORC Scholars Program, faculty/student teams are awarded funds to conduct original undergraduate research in the summer through our Summer Scholars Institute.
- Research Areas: Engineering, Computer Science (includes USCA’s Cybersecurity and Applied Gaming concentrations in computer science), Chemistry, and Biology (Environmental Remediation and Restoration).
- The Summer Scholars Institute is a College of Sciences and Engineering initiative currently in its fourth year that supports active undergraduate research/scholarship in the summer. SSI participants participate in bi-weekly professional development workshops focused on topics that include scientific ethics, building a resume, and giving professional “elevator speeches”. At the end of the summer, participants give oral poster presentations at the SSI Summer Symposium on the USCA campus.
Funding to support WORC Research Emphasis Groups (REG) ($15,000/group)
- The Research Emphasis Group supports innovative research with undergraduates. Through the REG, students are mentored one-on-one which helps to develop them as future scientists and professionals.
- Rotated among Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, and Biology-Environmental Remediation and Restoration
- The selection of the REG each year will be through a competitive process.
Industry Sponsored Capstones (ISC)
All students in the College of Sciences and Engineering participate in a research-focused senior Capstone project. For engineering and computer science students, these research projects are provided by industry sponsors.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), and Savannah River Remediation (SRR) sponsor groups each year.
Each group has three seniors working as a team being mentored by a professional at SRNS, SRNL, or SRR.
- Senior representatives from SRNS, SRNL, and SRR all serve on our Engineering Advisory Board. The Board helps to ensure the continued excellence of our ABET-accredited engineering degree. Part of the duties of the Board include helping with the assessment of the program and fully supporting the Capstone projects. Board members are guaranteed access to students to participate in their industry-sponsored projects. This process allows SRNS, SRNL, and SRR to work with USCA STEM students for almost a year. Many students are often offered full-time employment after the Capstone experience.
Internships
Our college works with SRNS, SRNL, and SRR to provide a list of all USCA students selected for summer internships each year.
- WORC Scholars Program will provide additional funds ($500) to each student intern at SRNS/SRNL/SRR to participate in the Summer Scholars Institute (SSI).
- SSI provides bi-weekly meetings on professional development.
- SRNS/SRNL interns would participate in these bi-weekly meetings.
- Student interns would present their summer internship work at the SRNS/SRNL poster session AND the SSI poster session.
ASSP Safety Management Certificate
One student will be selected from one of the WORC II-focused STEM majors to obtain the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety Management Certificate that USCA offers to increase the viable candidates for SRS safety positions.