Page 42 - Engineering Career Guide for UT Austin

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Every year, engineering students
across the U.S. compete in Formula
SAE race car design competitions
at speedways in Lincoln, Neb., or
Brooklyn, Mich. Each student team
designs, builds, and tests a proto-
type, following competition rules to
ensure on-track safety (the students
drive the cars) and promote clever
problem-solving. Students are al-
lowed to receive advice and feed-
back from professional engineers
and school faculty but must do all
car design themselves. In 2023, the
University of Illinois took first place
in a competitive field of 120 teams.
Over the past several years, the U
of I team — made up of mechanical
science and engineering students
— has established itself as the top
team in the country.
Research deals between companies and universities are at an
all-time high. Companies seek access to the best scientific and
engineering minds, and universities are happy to have funding
to provide students important real-world research experience.
Argonne National Laboratories, for example, collaborates with
numerous universities on research into energy, materials science,
engineering, and more. A recent collaboration with professors
and students in the materials science and engineering department
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison led to the invention of a
unique tool to see how tiny crystals of new materials form and
grow in real time. This unique method will help find materials
useful for electronics, optics, and magnets — a definite win-win.
Building Partnerships
Driving in the
Super-Fast Lane
In the real world, engineers often work in teams. Students do the same at engi-
neering programs across the country. Teamwork teaches valuable communication
skills and prepares students to face future challenges. Whether it’s community
outreach and service, or developing super-fast racing cars, team projects offer
students lots of exciting opportunities. Here are a few examples:
teamwork