University’s STEM Career Fair Connects Students and Potential Employers

Gowtham Jayakumar ’20 M.S. is preparing to graduate in May, and he is busy exploring job opportunities. A candidate in the University’s cellular and molecular biology program, he attended the University’s recent science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career expo.

"This was a great way for me to meet people and network," he said. "I am impressed by the diversity – there are companies from every field represented that offer a wide array of services and opportunities."

"This was a great way for students to get a foot in the door."Brianna King ’21

Jayakumar was one of nearly 400 students who attended the event. Hosted by the University’s Career Development Center, it brought representatives from 50 companies and organizations to connect with students, including Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Aquarion Water Company, and General Dynamics.

Miriam Ortiz, a recruiter at Jackson Labs, a biomedical research institution, says the company saw a lot of interest from biology students, in particular, and she was impressed by the students she met.

"The students were very informed," she said. "We connected with three students before the career fair, and all three came by and introduced themselves. For me, that was the highlight of the day."

In response to student feedback following previous STEM career fairs, the Career Development Center included more tech companies this year. The expo also brought more companies offering positions for chemistry and biology students, something that Brianna King ’21, a biology major interested in learning about internship opportunities, was grateful for.

"This was a great way for students to get a foot in the door," she said. "I left my resume with several companies."