Experiential Learning, Business Problem-Solving
Pennsylvania Robotics & Technology Fellowships
A Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business initiative supported by federal grant funding.
The Pennsylvania Robotics & Technology Fellowship (PA-RTF) aims to support small and medium-sized manufacturers in the Pittsburgh region and provide experiential learning opportunities for University of Pittsburgh graduate students. Working in small teams, students will connect with company representatives to address an immediate challenge or opportunity.
Win-Win Opportunity
Students: this short, intense project-based experience will help you develop and enhance your problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills in a working business.
Companies: gain actionable recommendations and deliverables specific to their current business needs while introducing them to potential hires.
For more information, please contact the Center for Integrated Learning inbox at integratedlearning@pitt.edu.
Program Structure
- 6-8 week consulting projects in many functional areas including strategy, general business, and technological implementation
- Virtual, with possible onsite visits
- $2,000 stipend (before taxes)
- Opportunities available in January, March, May, August, and October
- Watch a previous information session
- Download the slides from the fall information session
Eligibility & Application Process
- Graduate student from Katz, Swanson School of Engineering, School of Computing & Information, or School of Law
- Be in good academic standing
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, fill out this form.
Project Summaries
Mapless AI is a mobility-tech startup advancing remote vehicle repositioning through teleoperation, offering a smarter alternative to fully autonomous systems. Partnering with the Pitt PA-RTF team, Mapless aimed to realign its market strategy by targeting scalable, B2B-focused microfleet opportunities—particularly in healthcare and institutional mobility.
The team conducted an extensive market assessment across hospitals, universities, and airports to evaluate high-priority use cases like fleet rebalancing, cleaning logistics, and EV repositioning. With detailed financial modeling and user research, they identified healthcare fleets as the most viable entry point—offering strong ROI potential and operational fit.
To support scale, the team developed a go-to-market roadmap, competitive positioning, and pricing model, including an optional SaaS dashboard upsell. These insights position Mapless AI to scale its teleoperation platform across institutional partners, enabling efficient vehicle logistics while improving utilization, sustainability, and customer experience.
Farm to Flame Energy (FTF) is a clean-tech company that turns agricultural and industrial biomass waste into clean, carbon-neutral energy. FTF partnered with the Pitt PA-RTF team to support its business development strategy and refine its generator technology for broader industrial deployment.
To accelerate market engagement, the team developed a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that outlines how to identify, evaluate, and engage high-potential industries and companies. This SOP serves as a repeatable toolkit for conducting market analysis, prioritizing targets based on sustainability goals and energy intensity, and initiating structured outreach to key decision-makers.
In tandem, the team conducted an industry deep dive across four sectors—waste management, sawmills, packaging, and paper mills—identifying major growth opportunities and energy pain points. These efforts position Farm to Flame to strategically scale its operations, leveraging data-driven outreach and cost-effective energy solutions to serve industrial partners in the U.S. and beyond.
“The Robotics & Technology Fellowships provide tremendous opportunities for us to incorporate classroom learning into meaningful work. Our students will help small manufacturers adopt the newest robotics and autonomous technologies to operate more efficiently and better compete.”
Watch a recording of the August 2023 information session.
Program Testimonials
Participation in the PA-RTF program helped me understand that collaborating with people with different expertise can solve any problem. I enjoyed working with other stakeholders and interacting with the CEO directly to understand what he wanted and how we, as a team, can provide the best services and solutions to the company.
This program allowed me to gain practical experience that I wouldn’t have been able to obtain through classroom learning. The decisions I made during the program had real-time impacts on the business value, allowing me to see the results of my choices in action. This helped me gain a deeper understanding of how my decisions can impact a business’s overall success. The program also gave me the chance to learn about external factors that can impact a business.
With the help of students from Katz and other Pitt schools, this project will support factory modernization, bring the research and development resources of Greater Pittsburgh’s anchor institutions to these companies, expand manufacturing supply chains, and fill the region’s idled brownfields with thriving enterprises.