Plastics Engineering undergraduates staff the student booth at the International Elastomer Conference.
There are numerous opportunities for students to gain professional experience and interact with professionals in their field. The UMass Lowell Department of Plastics Engineering prides itself on its close relationship with top companies and employees in the industry who not only donate scholarship funds and equipment to the program but, more importantly, offer their time and expertise to students.
Within the Department of Plastics Engineering there are student chapters of professional societies and student organizations. These groups educate plastics engineering students through technical talks and symposia, provide networking experiences with industry professionals, and arrange social events. Major organizations include:
Within the Department of Plastics Engineering there are student chapters of professional societies and student organizations. These groups educate plastics engineering students through technical talks and symposia, provide networking experiences with industry professionals, and arrange social events. Major organizations include:
In addition to the three student organizations, several professional societies provide other opportunities for students.
- Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP) provides annual technical presentations and offers opportunities for scholarships. More information is available at IOPP.
- International Wire and Cable Symposium (IWCS) has established an endowment fund, in honor of John T. Barteld, which covers undergraduate (or capstone) research on issues related to wire and cable coating. These funds allow students to present a poster at the Symposium, which is typically held in October. More information is available at IWCS.
Alumni and friends of the Plastics Engineering Department maintain supportive and generous long after they graduate. We have an impressive list of 60 endowed scholarship funds to support our Plastics Engineering students. The Plastics Engineering Department has the largest endowment among all academic departments at UMass Lowell. For detailed information please visit our scholarships page.