The Office of Professional Practice at Purdue University offers exciting opportunities for students in West Lafayette and Indianapolis to connect with Indiana startups and early-stage companies. Designed to drive economic development and provide hands-on professional experience, the
Interns for Indiana (IFI) program is open to students from both STEM and non-STEM disciplines who are eager to contribute to the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With the expansion of the OPP to Indianapolis and its close proximity to both established and emerging industry partners, Purdue students in Indianapolis also are given the opportunity to gain enhanced opportunities to participate in programs like Interns for Indiana.
By partnering with a diverse range of industry leaders, the university offers students hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and career pathways.
One company highly engaged in the IFI program is Continuity Pharma, a startup addressing the global shortage of essential medicines by developing modular, portable continuous manufacturing systems for producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This advanced approach increases production efficiency, reduces waste, and ensures a steady supply of critical medications.
These dynamic student partnerships offer fresh perspectives and innovative solutions, which are especially valuable in cutting-edge industries like pharmaceutical manufacturing. According to David Thompson, co-founder and chief technology officer at Continuity Pharma, students bring a unique enthusiasm and resilience to the table.
“Students bring an energy and willingness to try different approaches that more seasoned staff may not be willing to try due to prior experiences,” Thompson said. “They also endure failure more readily and spring back to give it another try or take a new approach.”
Andrew Dyba, a chemical engineering student and IFI intern, completed an internship at Continuity Pharma in Summer 2024. “The Interns for Indiana Program gave me the opportunity to demonstrate my capabilities,” he said. “This practical experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing has positioned me well to pursue an internship or full-time role in the field I’ve always dreamed of joining.”
Thompson emphasized the value of IFI in preparing students for the workforce. “This program provides a unique experience for students to work in a corporate setting so they can both learn new skills and gain a feeling for what it is like to work in a mission-driven enterprise,” Thompson said. “As a startup company, we provide a great opportunity for individual initiative and project ownership for our interns. By providing close mentorship during their time in our organization, we maximize their ability to successfully complete the assignment and convey a sense of achievement.””
Andrew Dyba (second from left) and Derek May (center) completed their internships with Continuity Pharma through the IFI program in the Summer of 2024.
Derek May, another chemical engineering student and IFI intern, found his internship experience at Continuity Pharma invaluable. “The program helped me broaden my professional experience and deepen my understanding of the pharmaceutical world,” he said. “In my time at Continuity, two other interns and I designed a monitoring and control system that was able to read and record temperature, pressure, and flow rate data for future FDA audits. This project gave us experience in a broad range of engineering and social disciplines, including 3D modeling, programming in more than three languages, creating and ordering custom PCBs, and researching and ordering scientific equipment.”
Continuity Pharma offers numerous valuable opportunities for interns to grow, innovate, and contribute to impactful projects in the pharmaceutical industry.
For Purdue freshman Zahin Kabir, the summer after his first year was more than just a break from classes, it was a turning point in his academic and professional journey. Through Purdue’s Interns for Indiana program, Kabir secured an internship with Ourobio, a materials science company developing biodegradable bioplastics. The experience not only deepened his technical skills but also exposed him to the broader impact of sustainability-driven innovation.
For Kabir this opportunity was a gateway to a hands-on role in process development at Ourobio, where he worked to extract and refine pigments, natural byproducts of the company’s bioplastic manufacturing process. These pigments held potential to be repurposed as dyes for the bioplastics themselves, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic colorants.
“My role involved refining methods to extract high-purity pigment and developing scalable, sustainable processes to optimize yield,” Kabir said. “The experience pushed me to apply my classroom knowledge in real-world settings, from experimental design to quality control, while learning about the intricacies of research and development cycles.”
Beyond technical challenges, Kabir found support through the program’s holistic approach. Interns for Indiana provided more than just an internship, it offered career counseling, a fellowship stipend, and housing assistance through TechPoint, making it financially feasible for him to live and work in Indianapolis for the summer.
“This support eliminated financial concerns, allowing me to focus fully on learning and contributing to my project,” Kabir said. “As someone navigating my first professional internship, having that stability made all the difference in helping me acclimate to a new environment.”
Mentorship also played a role in Kabir’s growth. Working closely with Ourobio team members Kobe Rogers and Brevin Horvath, he gained insight into process engineering and the iterative nature of research and development. Their guidance helped him bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
As he looks back on the summer, Kabir sees the internship as more than just an opportunity to build his resume, it was a formative experience that set the stage for his future. He believes programs like Interns for Indiana are essential in providing students with early exposure to industry roles. “I would wholeheartedly advocate for this initiative, as it empowers students to explore their potential while fostering meaningful contributions to Indiana’s industries,” Kabir said.
Glassboard, a product development consultancy specializing in hardware design, engineering, and manufacturing solutions, is dedicated to turning ideas into exceptional products. Through seamless collaboration and cutting-edge technology, the company partners with visionary businesses to bring their concepts to life. With a focus on simplifying complex processes, Glassboard ensures every product is designed with precision, functionality, and market viability in mind, empowering clients to achieve their goals and create standout solutions.
Samuel Wilson, a mechanical engineering technology major at Purdue University, credits Glassboard with providing an enriching and hands-on internship experience. “I’ve always loved making things but didn’t want to work for a company focused on just one product or industry,” he shared. “At Glassboard, I’ve worked on a variety of products across different industries, joined client meetings, developed solutions, and conducted research. I was treated as a valued member of the team.”
Sam Wilson (pictured above) worked at Glassboard as a Mechanical Engineering Intern, building products from concept to commercialization. Photo courtesy of Glassboard.
Wilson, who continues to work with Glassboard during the school year, is eager to return to the company this summer. “The atmosphere and team are amazing, and I go to work every day excited to be there,” he said.
His journey with Glassboard began when the company’s CEO identified a way to secure funding for his internship, further reflecting Glassboard’s commitment to fostering talent and supporting its team.
The Interns for Indiana program highlights Purdue University’s commitment to connecting students with Indiana’s innovative industries. These companies are just a few of the many organizations that students can connect with through IFI, highlighting the breadth of possibilities for students seeking impactful and career-shaping experiences. Stay connected with the program by following IFI on LinkedIn!
Story by: Margaret Mowrer
