Internship Opportunities

2024 Office of Physical Plant Internship Opportunities 

Penn State’s Office of the Physical Plant is seeking student interns for the spring/summer 2024. If interested, you must submit an application in Workday, including a cover letter and resume. The internship job posting can be found in Workday searching "Office of Physical Plant Internship" or REQ_0000048983.

Resumes and cover letters will be accepted through March 29, 2024. Cover letters should indicate the specific area of interest (see below for opportunities), otherwise application materials may not be considered. 

During the fall and spring semesters, interns may work up to 20 hours a week. During the summer, interns are expected to work 40 hours a week. Schedules and onsite locations can be discussed with the supervisor. Internships are available at University Park with compensation of $14 per hour. 

 

Questions: [email protected]

 

Positions Available

 

Architecture/Landscape Architecture

The Planning, Design, and Properties (PDP) team is seeking an architecture and/or landscape architecture intern for the summer 2024. The primary mission of this team is to promote wise stewardship of the University’s physical assets and provide responsive, high quality, and creative design solutions in support of the University’s mission. The successful candidate will assist staff with facility projects on campus (major projects, renovations, historic restoration, etc.). Efforts may include attending meetings, site reconnaissance, firm and project-type research, and design support efforts using the Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, SketchUp or similar programs. The candidate will be introduced to campus planning and site design through project-based work. Candidates must be pursuing a degree in Architecture or Landscape Architecture. Work location will be University Park, with the opportunity to visit various Commonwealth Campus locations while assisting the University Architect, University Planner, and/or Landscape Architecture staff.

 

Design Services 

Design Services provides professional architecture and engineering services in support of the development of Penn State’s building, site and infrastructure projects. These services are provided during all stages of design from initial feasibility studies through concept development and bid document stages as well as construction support. Services that are provided to Project Leaders and customers include Architectural Design, Civil Engineering, Mechanical/Plumbing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Roof and Elevator design, Building Information Modeling (BIM)/Virtual Design support and Code Compliance support. Typical activities for an intern include field data collection, design support, AutoCAD / Revit production and construction administration support.

Specifically, Design Services seeks interns to support its civil engineering group and its electrical engineering group. Civil engineering projects primarily consist of campus beautification, roadway, parking, sidewalk, landscape/hardscape, stormwater management and utility projects at the University Park and Commonwealth Campuses.  Skills and experience in the Microsoft Office suite of products and AutoCAD or Civil 3D is preferred. First, second, and third year students in various programs as well as fourth year Architectural Engineering students are encouraged to apply. 

 

Engineering Services – Energy Program Team

The Engineering Services – Energy Program Team is seeking interns interested in energy management activities for spring and summer 2024. Projects will include reviewing utility bills and meter readings, preparing and submitting benchmarking data for various reporting efforts, retrieving energy and utility information from databases, writing reports, and identifying energy savings opportunities. Candidates must be willing to do field work that includes, but is not limited to, visiting buildings to obtain physical data and performing or assisting with building energy audits that may require entrance to mechanical spaces. Candidates must have a background in engineering or science. Preference with core courses such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, HVAC, and lighting is a plus. Must have excellent computer skills. Candidate should also have the ability to communicate clearly, translate complex information for a variety of audiences, and perform various tasks independently. 

 

Engineering Services - Stormwater Team

The Engineering Services - Stormwater Team is seeking a student intern for the Spring 2024 semester to create a white paper about existing stormwater BMPs at University Park campus. The ideal candidate should be able to read and summarize scientific papers and data and have good technical writing skills. Potential to earn credit for the completion of the stormwater BMP white paper.  

 

Environmental Health and Safety - Radiation Protection Team

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is responsible for the development and implementation of environmental and all occupational health and safety programs throughout Penn State's multi-campus system. Depending on the unique skills and educational experiences of the intern candidate, possible projects may include: 

  • Radiological Characterization of Geological Samples - Assist with identifying and characterizing the radiological makeup of samples and specimens, including obtaining radiological measurements and identifying elemental compositions; performing trending analyses of isotopic data; assisting with documentation. Candidates should be a third or fourth year undergraduate pursuing a degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, or chemistry. Candidates who are third or fourth year undergraduates pursuing a Geosciences degree with a strong concentration and demonstrated knowledge in chemistry will also be considered. Projects span Spring and First Summer Semester 2024.

  • Radiological Incident and Emergency Response - Perform radiological analyses, interpret and communicate results, and use the analysis outcomes to assist with advanced planning to support Incident and Emergency Response. Candidates should be either an undergraduate senior or early graduate student pursuing a degree in Nuclear Engineering. Strong analytical and communications skills desired. Experience or knowledge of Incident and Emergency Response preferred, but not required. Projects span Spring and First Summer semester 2024.

  • Radiation Producing Equipment Safety - Assist with inspections and measurements of x-ray producing equipment and, as applicable, shielding evaluations and calculations. Candidates should be a student pursuing a degree in Physics. Candidates who are third or fourth year undergraduates pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree with a strong concentration and demonstrated knowledge in physics will also be considered. Experience with laboratory equipment preferred, but not required. Projects span Second Summer and Fall semesters 2024.

  • Radiation Safety & Health Physics - Assist with radiation and contamination surveys and measurements; assist with radiation survey meter upkeep and calibration; provide support for laboratory counting – including liquid scintillation counting and gamma spectroscopy. Candidates should be a student pursuing a degree in Physics, Medical Physics, Health Physics, or Nuclear Engineering or a closely related field. Experience with hand-held electronic equipment preferred but not required. Projects span Second Summer and Fall semesters 2024.

  • Radon Testing & Analysis - Plan, test, analyze, and report on indoor radon concentrations within University buildings and structures. Candidates should be a third or fourth year undergraduate pursuing a degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, chemistry, or nuclear engineering. Candidates who are third or fourth year undergraduates pursuing Environmental Sciences or Environmental Studies with strong concentrations and demonstrated knowledge in chemistry or physics will also be considered. Projects span Fall 2024 and Spring & Summer 2025 semesters.

 

Environmental Health and Safety - Research Safety Team

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is responsible for the development and implementation of environmental and all occupational health and safety programs throughout Penn State's multi-campus system. Depending on the unique skills and educational experiences of the intern candidate, possible projects may include: 

  • General Laboratory Safety - Assist with the development of tools and resources for laboratory-related focus areas including but not limited to instructional safety, laboratory specific safety training, research equipment safety, and laboratory security. Assist in planning Laboratory Safety Week. Candidates must have completed 2 years of undergraduate laboratory courses and possess superior verbal and written communication skills. Experience working in a research laboratory is strongly preferred. Projects span spring, summer, and fall semesters depending on need.
  • Biosafety - Assist University Biosafety Officers in routine tasks including risk assessments, the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), laboratory inspections and audits and incident investigations. Assist in the planning and implementation of Biosafety month. Evaluate metrics and trends in data and draft reports. Candidate should be a third or fourth year undergraduate pursuing a degree in life sciences. Candidates who are third or fourth year undergraduates pursuing Environmental Sciences or Environmental Studies with strong concentrations and demonstrated knowledge in biology, biochemistry, or other related fields will also be considered. Projects span spring, summer, and fall semesters depending on need.
  • Chemical Safety - Assist with risk assessments, the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), inventory audits, and incident investigations. Evaluate metrics and draft reports. Assist with quality control of information in the safety information database. Candidates should be a third or fourth year undergraduate pursuing a degree in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or other related field.  Candidates who are third or fourth year undergraduates pursuing Environmental Sciences or Environmental Studies with strong concentrations and demonstrated knowledge in chemistry will also be considered. Projects span spring, summer, and fall semesters depending on need.

 

Facilities Project Management

The Project Management department oversees and coordinates the design and construction of all new construction, renovation, and major maintenance projects for the University Park campus. They also serve as the primary interface between customers, architects, engineers, and contractors. The Project Management intern position will be responsible for field and office work such as coordinating project resources and contractors, assisting with project documentation, and organization and assisting with project controls and budget management. It is preferred the candidate is pursuing a degree in an engineering or architecture related field. First, second, and third-year architecture or engineering students are encouraged to apply.

 

Occupational Health and Safety

The intern will be assigned special projects to support the development of safety operations for the Office of Physical Plant and will help meet the overall safety compliance requirements associated with the higher education industry. The intern will assist with the development of injury prevention strategies and perform assessments for existing safety programs and procedures. Candidates should be at least in their second year of higher education, studying the Occupation Safety and Health or related field. 

 

Operational Technology

Interns with the Operational Technology team will collaborate with Systems Administrators in the planning, design, maintenance, implementation, and administration of infrastructure/servers that support Operational Technology. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to contribute to the implementation and utilization of robust security processes and procedures. Intern job responsibilities include:  

  • Network Design and Planning: Collaborate with team members on solutions that support the university's operations and strategic goals. 
  • Installation and Testing: Assist in the configuration and testing of equipment, ensuring reliability and performance. 
  • Operational Troubleshooting and Maintenance: Learn how to diagnose and resolve technical and process issues. 
  • Security Process and Procedure Development: Contribute to the implementation of security processes and procedures to protect infrastructure assests from potential threats. 
  • Account Management: Gain experience with an enterprise incident management platform and understanding of authorization/authentication processes. 

 

Space Planning and Management - Enterprise Programs

The Enterprise Programs unit of the Space Planning and Management team administrates multiple enterprise software systems to support the needs of facilities management and inform space management decisions across Penn State. The Enterprise Programs unit is seeking an intern to assist with the administration of enterprise SaaS systems. Job duties to include system configuration and administration; content updates and CMS administration; data discovery and entry including site visits for measurements, features, layouts, and photographs. Candidates must be enrolled in a four-year accredited undergraduate program. Students enrolled in Computer Science and Engineering, Information Science and Technology, Business, Architectural Engineering, or Geography programs are preferred, but not required.

 

Training and Development

The Office of Physical Plant's Training and Development team is responsible for the implementation of programs and facilitation of training activities focused on employee development which best serve 1,400 staff and technical service employees. The team works closely with department directors, managers, and supervisors to understand professional training needs, assist and facilitate the development of training plans/programs, source and evaluate contracted service providers for training and organizational development programs, and assist with overseeing instructional design initiatives across the organization. The team is seeking an intern to aid in the development and delivery of online, hybrid, and face-to-face educational programs and initiatives. Desired intern duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Designing, developing, and delivering asynchronous training materials for the University community.
  • Designing and developing storyboards as well as assessment and evaluation tools.
  • Reviewing course content and assessments and providing recommendations to enhance learning.

 

    To apply, please see instructions at the top of the page.