Sponsored Industrial Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students: Student Perspectives on Collaborative Projects with Pharmaceutical Industry

Rowan University's Engineering program uses innovative methods of teaching and learning to prepare students better for a rapidly changing and highly competitive marketplace, as recommended by ABET 1 .Rowan has developed a program that fosters synergistic interaction between industry and academia and prepares undergraduate students for careers in regionally and globally important industries.Through the Engineering Clinic program industrially sponsored research or design projects are performed in an academic environment.The abundance of pharmaceutical companies in New Jersey demands a steady pipeline of well-prepared engineering graduates.Undergraduate Rowan Engineering students have worked on a variety of research projects sponsored by pharmaceutical companies such as Brystol-Myers Squibb, Johnson Matthey Pharmaceuticals, and Novartis.This paper presents case studies which examine successful synergistic interaction between pharmaceutical industry and academia through the Rowan Engineering Clinic Program.The case studies are presented from the student perspective, focusing on the educational and professional benefits to students who have worked on these projects.