New NSF-Funded Research Co-op Certificate Program Helps Students Prepare for Careers in Research and Medicine

One hundred years ago, a dean of engineering at the University of Cincinnati invented co-operative education. Now, a century later, a new dean of engineering at the University of Cincinnati is re-inventing co-op. University of Cincinnati Engineering Dean Carlo Montemagno has announced a new opportunity for undergrads: a research co-op certificate program.

Through what Webster originally defined as the “Cincinnati Plan” of cooperative education, where students earn professional experience and a salary even while still enrolled in school, engineering students at the University of Cincinnati can now graduate prepared for industry or further research.

The Research Co-op Certificate program offers College of Engineering students the opportunity to conduct real research in real labs — for real money — thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Engineering Dean Montemagno stresses the critical need for universities to offer a variety of quality programs in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEMM).

“This novel program expands our STEMM offerings,” says Montemagno.

“The College of Engineering Research Co-op program is an attractive and flexible option for UC students interested in further research work or study,” says Associate Provost Kettil Cedercreutz, director of UC’s Office of Professional Practice.
 
Through the UC Research Co-op Certificate program, students can take advantage of co-op opportunities in cutting-edge research laboratories to gain experience tailored to their career goals in areas such as research, medicine or teaching. Students can also choose dual enrollment with the UC College of Medicine while fulfilling their bachelor’s degrees in engineering. The class of 2007 will be the first cohort of students with the opportunity to earn a Research Co-op Certificate.

“A significant number of scholarships will be available,” Montemagno affirms.
 
“When students graduate, they will have a year and a half of research experience under their belts,” says Professor Ed Grood, the director of the Research Co-op program. “That means that they will have earned at least $25,000 while they earned bachelor’s degrees in engineering.”
 
UC engineering students are already conducting important, peer-reviewed research with nationally and internationally renowned experts at P&G, for example. Students can work abroad in such labs as the Dusseldorf College of Applied Science or the Technische Universitat Munchen. Many students also have the opportunity to be published.

Aerospace engineering student Michael Kamp co-ops in a UC lab referred to as Center Hill, doing computational fluid dynamics (CFD). “Our hallmark technology is a dual-projector that allows us to look at three-dimensional models in true 3D. It was cool to see models of a final solution pop out at you!” he says. “In one particular instance, my professor told me we were looking at flow features that no one else had seen as we examined the results from one of my simulations. That was very gratifying.”

 “Several students have the opportunity to present and publish their work at professional conferences,” says Professor Awatef Hamed, chair of UC’s Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Department. “These are not student conferences.”

Aerospace student Kamp began his research co-op experience before the certificate program was established and is now excited at the extra credentials he can earn. “The experience of working alongside researchers is exciting and you can't help but feel like you are at the leading edge of technology in your field,” he says.

Even more, the UC Research Co-op Certificate option expands opportunities for UC students beyond existing engineering programs, beyond UC’s walls, beyond country borders.

“This goes beyond the numerous summer research opportunities that UC already offers,” says Grood. “The Research Co-op Program extends the research experience to a minimum of six months, not just a season. In addition, students are actively participating and contributing to the research, rather than just watching.”

Montemagno adds, “By creating opportunities in federal, state and private research labs, as well as industry and our fellow top research universities, we provide avenues of growth for the brightest students who will become the researchers, scientists and doctors of tomorrow.”