Corporate Relations
The Department of Physics is ready to help you recruit our students (both undergrads and graduate students), increase your visibility among our faculty, and strengthen your company's ties to our department.
Recruit Bachelor's Degree Students
Check in with the Engineering Career Services Office
The College of Engineering Career Services Office schedules on-campus interviews and assists with
student placement. It can provide students with information about your company. This is the first office you should call. Many graduating BS students
have their resumes on file at the Placement Office.
217.333.1960.
Sponsor a senior thesis student
Five years ago, we became the first physics department in the country (as far as we know) to develop an integrated three-semester course to teach undergraduates how to be physicists. Students take Physics 496, "Introduction to Physics Research," in the spring semester of their junior years, do a hands-on independent research project (on campus or off) during the summer, and come back to take Physics 499, "Senior Thesis," in the fall semester of their senior years. Broad themes are “doing science” (documentation of research, intermediate reports and studies, proposals, reviewing), the ethical conduct of science (sharing credit, treatment of data, avoiding bias), communicating in science (publications, oral presentations, proposals), and pursuing a physics career (research opportunities in various subdisciplines, applying to graduate school, nontraditional careers). If your company has summer internships available, and you're interested in some of the brightest young minds in the country, we want to talk to you.
Meet the Physics Society
The Physics Society (PhysSoc) is a group of undergraduates, graduates, and fellow travelers who share a common interest in physics. Many members are physics majors, but membership is also extended to people in all fields who have a passion for physics.
Give a presentation at a general Physics Society meeting (offerings of food will make you doubly welcome) and talk about your company or your industry—special problems you are working on, "hot" areas, recent technological developments. Provide support for PhysSoc and its activities. You can make direct financial contributions, provide equipment (computers and software are always welcome), defray travel expenses to conferences, underwrite projects or subscriptions.
Contact Professor Mats Selen to learn more about how to interact with PhysSoc students. 217.333.4225.
Contribute to Engineering Open House
Since 1920, Engineering Open House (EOH) has been the largest student exhibition in the country, drawing an average of more than 30,000 people of all ages and interests from the United States and Canada each year. (And it got its start in Physics in 1906.) Participating corporations play an integral role as sponsors fo student exhibits, working together with our students to showcase the latest technologies. Many PhysSoc engineers get their first taste of hands-on research by working on projects for EOH. Contact Mats Selen for more information about Physics EOH.
Support the Physics Van
The Physics Van is an outreach program to bring the fun and excitement of science to elementary school children. The program is organized and carried out by undergraduate student volunteers, and since 1996, it has challenged the mental image of what a scientist is for more than 15,000 kids and has shown them that as long as you want to learn and have fun, there's a world of physics waiting to be discovered.
Be a Guest Speaker for Physics 199B—Undergraduate Open Seminar
"Physics, the Universe, and Everything: Undergraduate Study in Physics as Preparation for Life" is our approach to introducing both majors and non-majors to the discipline. The lecture-format course features guest speakers, who talk about the wide variety of career options available for physicists. If you or someone from your company would like to give a talk, contact Celia Elliott.
Recruit Ph.D's
Contact Thesis Supervisors Directly
Get to know our faculty. Learn about the exciting research projects going on here and the valuable skills our students acquire. Visit our state-of-the-art research facilities. Let our Graduate Programs Office schedule an informative, productive recruiting visit for you.
Sponsor a Coffee Hour
Sponsor a Thursday pre-colloquium coffee hour. Physics has a 85-year tradition of Thursday colloquia, and our faculty and students gather for coffee and conversation in the spacious foyer of Loomis Lab every Thursday afternoon at 3:30 before Colloquium. A minimum of $250 will provide food and publicity. Attendance is typically at least 250. Representatives of your company may pass out literature and are welcome to stay for the colloquium. This is a great way to introduce your company and to meet informally with our faculty and graduate students. Contact Celia Elliott for more details. 217.244.7725.
Provide Graduate Research Traineeships
Sponsor a graduate research assistant's work with a faculty member on a topic of mutual interest. Contact individual professors directly. Contact the Associate Head for Graduate Programs for help in setting up traineeships. 217.333.3645.
Provide Summer Internships
Provide internships or summer jobs for graduate students. The Associate Head for Graduate Programs can help you identify appropriate students. 217.333.3645.
Endow a Graduate Fellowship
Named fellowships will ensure that we can continue to attract the best and the brightest students to our graduate programs.
Increase Your Visibility
Host an Illini Reception
An Illini reception is a chance for our alumni to see old friends and make new ones. We often hold receptions jointly with the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science, because of the overlap in interests and alumni among our departments. As the host, you provide the venue and the food—we do all the rest. If your company employs Illinois alums, or a significant number live in your area, an Illini reception can be a great public relations event for your company.
Donate Equipment or Software
Donations of equipment or software increases your company's name recognition and reputation among our students and faculty, while providing valuable resources to help us attract the best students. Contact Celia Elliott for more details. 217.244.7725.
Strengthen Your Ties
Give a Technical Presentation
Most of our research groups have their own seminar series and are always looking for interesting speakers. Contact Celia Elliott, 217.244.7725.
Endow a Chair, Professorship, Fellowship, or Scholarship
A permanent endowment will put your company at the forefront of Physics friends and donors and will make a very strong statement about your commitment to physics education. Plaques on permanent display in Loomis Laboratory and an annual awards ceremony to recognize publicly both the recipients and the donors of these prestigious honors will maintain the high level of awareness of your concern and support. Contact Celia Elliott for answers to your questions. 217.244.7725.
