UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State students interested in data engineering will have a new opportunity for gaining real-world experience while getting paid, thanks to a new partnership between IBM and the University. Through IBM’s newly established Data Engineering Center of Excellence Program, a group of up to 20 students will conduct work under the supervision of IBM researchers based in Innovation Park on the University Park campus.

The program will help students build skills related to data workflows; analytics; the Internet of Things; artificial intelligence; and data fabric, which refers to how data is connected across multiple systems. Training is an integral part of the program, and all admitted students will be required to attend additional workshops in the fall on topics such as big data, cloud-based architecture, and core banking concepts.

The Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) is coordinating the program, which will allow students to work on data engineering projects with IBM. A cohort-based model allows students participating in the program for multiple years to become mentors for newer cohorts. The first cohort is expected to start in fall 2022. A second cohort is expected to start in fall 2023.

Students can learn more about the program, including how to apply, at one of two informational sessions led by Tony Giordano, senior partner and vice president for global leader data platform services at IBM. Sessions will take place at both noon and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, in Room 233A of the HUB-Robeson Center. No registration is required, and students only need to attend one session.

Any students or community members with questions about the program and the informational sessions should contact Todd Price, ICDS corporate relations director for research, at tup77@psu.edu.