The University of Connecticut (UConn) and the University of Rhode Island (URI) are major public universities that, in addition to conducting extensive research for the Navy, contribute hundreds of graduates to the Navy and naval industries. As of 2017, UConn and URI have approximately 1400 active alumni working at Electric Boat (EB) and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, Rhode Island, annually provide approximately 125 engineers and 75 interns to EB. Naval science and technology workforce development opportunities for engineers are being made available by NIUVT to meet the naval workforce demands of Southeast New England and the Navy.

Workforce Development Opportunities

NIUVT provides a range of opportunities to educate and train engineers for the naval workforce: from offering a minor for undergraduate engineering students as part of the Southeast New England Naval STEM Coalition designed to train students in naval technologies and to transition them to naval careers; to facilitating opportunities for current employees at EB and supply chain companies to pursue a M.S. or Ph.D. in areas directly applicable to their work. Please click on the links below to view more details about these rewarding education opportunities.

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  Recognizing the region’s need to scale up the naval science and engineering workforce, UConn and URI have teamed up to create a major regional workforce initiative directed to undergraduate engineering students. The Southeast New England Naval STEM Coalition leverages resources at the two campuses and draws on industry and navy partners to deliver naval-relevant training.This Undergraduate Navy Crew will receive mentoring by Navy professionals and naval industry engineers, be exposed to the naval industry through a three semester seminar course, and conduct meaningful work in a year-long Senior Design Project at the direction of navel industries.

  

  Each semester since Spring 2018, The UConn/URI collaborative Naval Science & Technology (Navy STEM) STEM program has hosted a weekly seminar series. The program seeks to engage undergraduate engineering students in naval related activities throughout their academic programs and spark their interest in pursuing naval related careers. Speakers from a wide variety of companies have shared details of their technical expertise, reflected on their personal career paths and provided information about career opportunities within their organization.

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  Each year, senior design projects at UConn and URI can be sponsored by the Navy and naval industry to address a real-world technical or design challenge. The year-long projects are required of all engineering seniors at both UConn and URI, and teams of 2-4 seniors are mentored by university professors and by professionals from the sponsor organizations.
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  The NIUVT Scholars Program is intended to provide a viable mechanism for talented engineers in Navy-related industries to conduct Masters and Doctorial studies at the University of Connecticut and University of Rhode Island. The NIUVT Scholars Program provides specific and unique opportunities for engineers working part time at Navy-related industries to engage as students and research assistants in meaningful and targeted research activities leading to MS thesis and PhD dissertations. This program is significantly different than any course-based graduate degree in that it requires the employee/student to fully engage in research activities under the direct mentorship of faculty members who are leaders in their fields of study and to utilize computational and experimental resources available at UConn and URI.

  Click here to learn more about the NIUVT Scholars program.

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  NIUVT researchers are continuously engaged in research funded by the Navy. Whether it be new projects looking for qualified graduate students, or existing projects entering a new phase and requiring additional student researchers, there are many opportunities within NIUVT for highly qualified students to receive stipend and tuition benefits toward getting a M.S. or Ph.D on a Navy-related topic. Contact info@niuvt.us if you are interested in a Graduate Research Assistantship with NIUVT.