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.
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
Process Improvement with Digital Tools
Eisenwood, a woodworking company based in Pittsburgh, specializes in tailor-made woodworking projects for local businesses and homes. They were using an Excel spreadsheet to manage their workflow and track jobs and wondered if there was a better way.
The student team collaborated with the client to evaluate different digital job tracking tools available to recommend the most suitable tool for Eisenwood’s needs. Next, they conducted market research, interviewed similar businesses, and explored demos from potential digital tool providers. This enabled the team to recommend the best tool to match the client’s requirements. The students also helped Eisenwood implement the chosen tool and offered a series of general recommendations for enhancing production management on the job floor to bolster efficiency.
Security of IoT Data
Airviz’s Internet of Things (IoT) products are designed to collect and transmit crucial data concerning air quality and greenhouse gases in areas encompassing oil and gas wells, cities, and industrial settings. Currently, their low-cost, Raspberry Pi-based sensors are configured with password protection and relay data to a database at Carnegie Mellon University, shared among lab users. With a goal of offering their sensors to large-scale enterprise clients in the long term, Arviz needed to address security issues.
The student team has delved into the architecture, identifying, and recommending potential security vendors, and focusing on compatibility and consolidation of solutions to address Airviz’s need for robust IoT data security aligned with cost-effective considerations.
Market Analysis Pinpoints Growth Opportunity
Penna Flame was considering a potential investment in new induction hardening capabilities but needed an analysis of the marketplace.
The student team conducted market research to unveil opportunities for this potential investment. They educated themselves on the heat-treating market, pinpointing its growth sectors, analyzed competitors to discern their key value propositions and success factors, and identified potential customers. The students unearthed over 100 potential customers, categorizing them and discovering which states had the hightest concentration of potential customers. The findings provide Penna Flame with a holistic view of the market, enabling informed strategic decisions regarding their induction hardening capabilities, fostering their ability to seize opportunities and strategically position themselves within the industry.
“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
It was a great learning experience to work with a small company and understand the unique challenges associated with its operations. This experience has opened my eyes to a new industry I was unfamiliar with. It was a fast-paced project so handling client requirements while time is ticking was exciting and it helped me better manage priorities and multitask.
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.”
