This summer, Florida Tech students took significant strides in their professional journeys by landing internships with leading companies and organizations across various industries. These experiences allow students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges and set the stage for future career success.
Florida Tech’s emphasis on hands-on learning and industry connections ensures students are well-prepared for the workforce. Hear from a handful of students from a variety of majors who made the most of their summer internships and how these experiences serve as stepping stones to promising careers, below.
1. Meet Xander Lockard
Internship Host: Modus Operandi
Major: Computer Science
“At Modus Operandi I specialized primarily in back-end Java and AI development. Florida Tech helped me get this internship by putting me in contact with local companies. I went to the career fair and met with Modus Operandi. Over the following months, I reached out and kept in touch and eventually received an interview and an offer. In addition to Career Services, I cannot give enough thanks to the wonderful professors here for preparing me for this internship. Florida Tech is unique in the way it offers many classes that closely align with the day-to-day operations of real software engineering. Florida Tech creates many opportunities available to you which would be harder to come by at a larger school—the amount of opportunities available is amazing. In my program in particular many professors are looking to hire students to get involved with research opportunities. In addition, a lot of professors here have worked for local companies or work currently as consultants and can help you get your foot in the door. My advice to students looking to get an internship is to leverage Florida Tech’s connections with local companies and get involved in student organizations, research or anything you can think of to make your resume stand out.”
2. Meet Lydia Carroll
Internship Host: Northrop Grumman
Major: Business Administration
“Though I cannot share much of what my work entailed because it is classified, my project was to create a Financial Health Metric report card that is generalized and easy to use by all programs. I got this internship through Career Services’ Handshake program, where students are able to find out about all the cool internship opportunities. Florida Tech also had Northrop Grumman recruiters visit campus a few times to provide students the opportunity to network and ask questions about internships directly to the company representatives. I am still unsure of what career I intend to pursue after graduation, but my time at Florida Tech helped me build a large network of contacts. Though, I may seek a full-time position at Northrop Grumman. The business program here uniquely sets students up for success because it gives them a versatile degree that helps open many professional doors. It allows students to interact with a diverse faculty who have different experiences in the business world. I think students should make it a point to attend career fairs, start getting your name out there and make good connections with professors and classmates.”
3. Meet Deztynee Bryan
Internship Host: National Center for Atmospheric Research
Major: Meteorology
“This year, I was accepted into the 28th Protégé cohort of the U.S. National Science Foundation Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (NSF SOARS), being the first student from Florida Tech since 2010 to do so. I was fortunate to be situated in the Earth Observing Laboratory working with the lead scientists of the NSF Airborne Phased Array Radar (APAR) Team. Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend graduate school, with the goal of immersing myself in hurricane research. I encourage students seeking internships to connect with both students and professionals in your field. Learning from their experiences and insights can help you discover the path you want to pursue. Additionally, involvement in national organizations and campus clubs can be incredibly rewarding. Professors in the Meteorology Department encourage students to attend conferences and networking events, emphasizing the importance of seeking out opportunities.”
4. Meet Madeline Marasco
Internship Host: Island Dolphin Care
Major: Psychology with a concentration in animal behavior.
“I assisted staff in daily animal care duties, such as preparing diets for the animals, assisting with husbandry procedures, providing enrichment, participating in training and therapy sessions and recordkeeping. My experiences with Dr. Talbot and Dr. Proctor while working in the Animal Cognition Center at the Brevard Zoo have been instrumental toward this internship, as well as my future career in animal care and training and directly led to internship offers from three different animal care facilities for this summer, which select 4-5 people from hundreds of applications each summer! As a psychology student in animal behavior, getting to work on research alongside my professors in the field has been incredibly beneficial to gaining an in-depth understanding of working alongside animals, as well as how to communicate science to the public, which has helped me immensely during my internship. I intend to go into the marine mammal training field, working alongside marine mammals and introducing them to the public to inspire ocean ambassadors to assist in conservation efforts. A few years ago, I was set on working at a specific facility, however, through experiences at Island Dolphin Care and other facilities, l’ve had the opportunity to explore other aspects of animal care and training to become a more well-rounded individual. College has helped me to widen my horizons and push me to do things I never thought I could and meet people I will continue to work with in the future! Always be willing to step outside of your comfort zone.”
5. Meet Candela Solis Zampini
Internship Host: Space Trek
Major: Astrobiology with minors in chemistry, physics and biology.
“My role was to help with all the space camps and develop technology that can be later used in STEM camps all across the country. For international students it can be difficult to find internship opportunities, especially in the aerospace field however, I attended a seminar hosted by Florida Tech’s career services, where they helped us navigate different platforms to find jobs that offer CPT (curricular practical training) options. It was really useful especially when they talked about the paperwork we needed and what to take into consideration while applying for internships and jobs. Since day one Florida Tech has prepared us and pushed us to be professionals in our fields. Not only academically but socially in a job setting as well. My research and technical skills acquired during my years here made me the perfect candidate for this opportunity. Florida Tech is one of the only universities in the country that has an astrobiology undergraduate program—which is essential if you want to work in the biology side of the aerospace field. Astrobiology is so broad that I can do things in the biology, chemistry, physics and engineering fields. That’s what I like most about my major. After graduation, I plan to get an M.S. in biotechnology here to deepen my understandings. After that, I hope to get a position as a researcher in the Astrobiology Lab at NASA and I would love to do some astronaut training as well.”
6. Meet Tyler Ton
Internship Host: ZelTech
Major: Computer Science
“I primarily worked on web-related projects and tools. I learned about this position through a Handshake posting. Florida Tech played a role in helping me earn this internship through resume reviews and mock interviews. Career Services advisors went through my resume and gave me helpful tips to improve. I intend to pursue a career in software engineering with a specialization in web development. My time at Florida Tech through the coursework and advice from faculty members combined with this internship are all helping me to prepare for my future career. My advice for fellow students seeking internships is to keep applying. Florida Tech has prepared students for success through rigorous coursework and testing. Hands-on experience, such as projects, played a key role for me.”
