This cluster includes jobs in the following industries: aerospace, architecture, automotive, aviation, biotechnology, construction, design, earth science/geosciences, electronics, energy, environment, manufacturing, medical devices, natural resources, oil & gas, systems, and transportation. Find jobs and internships in this cluster on 12twenty!
Recruiting Timelines and Methods
While some architecture firms recruit through the CCD and post on 12twenty, many opportunities in architecture are sourced through the School of Architecture. However, the larger companies in the engineering industries tend to participate in on-campus recruiting. The primary way to secure an internship or full-time position at a larger firm with a well-established internship or new hire program is through campus recruiting. Some firms recruit interns with the intention of converting them to full-time hires, and thus do not return to campus to recruit for full-time positions.
While many of these employers recruit on campus, networking is still a critical component in securing a job or internship in these industries. The recruiting process for a summer internship following junior year actually begins during your sophomore year. Successful candidates invest time in the process by attending on-campus sessions, networking at career expos, signing up for coffee chats and arranging informal phone calls or meetings. It is crucial to begin this process early before the official recruitment season begins. In addition to reviewing job application materials, many employers will grant interviews to candidates who they’ve connected with earlier on in the process. The interview process will typically consist of a mix of behavioral and technical questions. Formal recruiting starts at the beginning of the fall semester, so make sure you return to campus ready to go with an updated resume and proper attire.
Smaller firms will often hire on an as-needed basis and therefore do not tend to conduct on-campus interviews. Develop a list of target companies and routinely visit their websites for job posting and other opportunities. Connect regularly with classmates, professors, alumni and personal contacts to develop relationships with individuals who work in these industries.
Whether you are interested in smaller or larger firms, to ensure you do not miss out on any opportunities to connect with an employer or job application deadlines, check 12twenty for job and internship postings and networking events.
Architecture
Architecture blends the design and execution of some structure through art and technology. Most frequently associated with buildings, areas (outdoors or indoors), furniture/art and communities. Learn more at Rice’s highly esteemed School of Architecture.
Internships are so important in this realm that Rice also offers a Preceptorship experience. This allows students to gain an additional 9 months of industry experience in between years 4 and 5 of study. Students typically intern/work in small or large firms, urban planning, civil engineering firms, computer-aided technicians, drafters, green builders, environmental planners, and landscape.
Architecture
- Rice Architecture Society
- Rice Design Alliance
- American Planning Association - Jobs Search
- O*NET OnLine - Architecture
Engineering
Aerospace/Aviation
Aerospace/Aviation: Aerospace and aviation focus on space and flight. Operated as for-profit, non-profit organizations. The start-up scene in this field has grown in the past few years. Students typically intern/work at airlines, NASA, other government agencies related to flight and/or museums. Connect with the Eclipse team on campus!
Resources:
SpaceNews
NASA - Aeronautics
Aviation Week Network
Flight Global
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Aerospace Technology
Federal Aviation Administration - Quick Reference
Biotechnology
Biotechnology can be described as technology with a foundation in biology. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization states that “Biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet.” Students typically intern/work in roles related to medical or chemical manufacturing, food sciences, pharmaceuticals, and research labs in industry and academic settings.
Resources:
BioHouston
BioPharmGuy - TX Biotech, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Companies
BioPharmGuy - CA Biotech, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Companies
BioPharmaGuy - NY Biotech, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Companies
BioPharmaGuy - IL Biotech, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Companies
Texas Biotechnology Company Directory
Texas Medical Center Innovation Companies
Genentech
Janssen United States
PCCA RX
Lonza
GILEAD
AMGEN
Bristol Myers Squibb
Biogen
Regeneron
ALEXION
VERTEX Pharmaceuticals
Illumina
BioMarion Pharmaceutical
Agilent
EBRC Research Roadmaps
Medical Devices
The Medical Device field is part of the healthcare industry. Technology and innovation drive design. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines this field here.
Popular organizations to intern or work are: Baxter International, Cardinal Health, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic
Resources:
Top 50 Medical Device & MedTech Industry Resources
Clarkston Consulting - 2022 Medical Device Industry Trends
Earth Sciences
Earth Sciences encompass the study of the earth within a scientific lens. Some fields within this area of study include geography, climatology, meteorology, oceanography, and hydrology. These studies allow a better understanding of the earth. Students typically intern/work in academia, oil & gas, computational modeling, museums and even financial services.
Resources:
National Science Foundation - About Earth Sciences
American Geosciences Institute - Earth Science World
NASA - Science Mission Directorate
Natural Resources
Natural resources are tied to the energy industry. These include leveraging natural resources such as soil, fossil fuels, water power and minerals (to name a few) to solve problems.
Students may intern/work as: natural resources analysts or managers, water resources engineers, and environmental engineers.
Resources:
Harvard Business Review - How the Natural Resources Business Is Turning into a Technology Industry
Deloitte - Tracking The Trends 2022
RIGZONE
Energy
This is a broad term for an area with many sub-fields. Roles in this space range from financial analyst or trader to engineers, technicians, supply chain managers, project management, IT, consulting and environmental.
Student clubs include: Society of Women Engineers, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, National Society for Black Engineers
Here, the focus is on just two of those sub-fields: Renewable and Oil & Gas.
Renewable energy is energy gathered from naturally replenished resources (like solar, wind, geothermal, bio and hydro). Organizations generally monetize this natural energy by selling it to consumers. Students may intern/work in this space for Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy or NRG.
Oil & Gas
It’s important for students to understand each stage of the process and identify which one(s) to focus on in an internship or job search.
- Upstream: Focuses on the exploration stages of the oil and gas industry, with upstream firms taking the first steps to locate, test and drill for oil and gas. Students may intern/work at integrated organizations like BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell; independent exploration and production organizations like Anadarko, Apache, ConocoPhillips, or Oxy; oilfield service providers like Baker Hughes/GE, Fluor, Halliburton or Schlumberger
- Midstream is the conduit between upstream and downstream where natural gas is gathered for distribution (via refineries) and shipping and storage of crude or refined products happen. Students may intern/work at organizations like Enterprise Products, Kinder Morgan or Spectra Energy.
- Downstream relates to operations after production leading up to the point of sale. Organizations in this space include BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell. Refiners and other downstream organizations are Marathon, Phillips66, Tesoro, and Valero.
- Services and Equipment - cleaning, testing, erecting, repairing and dismantling oil and gas field rigs and derricks, as well as pipeline related services. Other services include exploration related operations, such as geological surveying and mapping. Students may intern/work at organizations such as FMC Technologies and National Oilwell Varco
Resources:
Houston Chronicle - Fuel Fix
RIGZONE
PennEnergy Resources
POWER Magazine
Geoart
The Guardian - Renewable Energy
World News - Renewable Energy News
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Renewable Energy World
American Solar Energy Society
Water Environment Federation
STEMCompass
ENGINEERJOBS.COM
Career Cornerstone Center - Engineering
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy - Internships, Fellowships, Graduate & Postdoctoral Opportunities
Civil & Environmental
This area of study focuses on so much of what’s around us and how people navigate the spaces around us in safe and (ideally) healthy ways: buildings, bridges, the environment, sustainability and so much more. Students in this field are able to analyze problems in various environments (internal and external structures and in science) in order to solve and innovate around them.
Resources:
Rice University - Civil & Environmental Engineering
O*NET OnLine - Environmental Engineers
U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics - Environmental Engineers Occupational Outlook
Construction
Construction is a field that entails commercial building, home building, and renovation, heavy industrial construction or engineering construction. The latter may entail design and construction of railroads,
Students typically intern/work in project management, field engineer, construction operations and building analytics.
Engineering construction organizations related to Oil & Gas include ABB, CB&I, Foster Wheeler, Fugro, KBR, and Technip.
Resources:
Associated General Contractors of America - Education & Training
O*NET OnLine - Construction
U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics - Architecture and Construction
Sustainability
Sustainability is a movement that doesn’t just entail careers in biodesign or clean energy, but also plays a role in many other industries, each with their own green career options. This resource package is designed to be a comprehensive guide on looking into “greening careers’, complete with general tips on how to be more eco-friendly, alumni advice, career timelines, and a litany of other resources. Click on the link below to access resources that are designed by students, for students:
Rice University - Sustainability Jobs & Internships
Transportation
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The Transportation and Warehousing sector includes industries providing transportation of passengers and cargo, warehousing, and storage for goods, scenic and sightseeing transportation, and support activities related to modes of transportation. Establishments in these industries use transportation equipment or transportation related facilities as a productive asset. The type of equipment depends on the mode of transportation. The modes of transportation are air, rail, water, road, and pipeline.”
The Transportation field relies on moving passengers and goods/cargo via air, rail, water, and road. Students typically intern/work at airports, railways, trains, pipelines and post offices. Logistics can fall in this field as well.
Resources:
O*NET OnLine - Transportation