Overview
The Talent Incubator Program (TIP) is an industry-sponsored research program that hires top Industrial Distribution students to work part-time on company research projects. Since 2010, it has matched more than 345 promising students with over 150 company sponsors to produce more than 200 completed research projects.
How TIP Works
Every spring, interested students submit their applications with the Talent Incubator and complete an interview process, with hiring decisions being made during the summer. In the following fall, the chosen students will be matched with an industry project to complete during a paid internship for a company sponsor. For nine months (two semesters), the groups of students will conduct research, create project deliverables, and regularly meet with their sponsor companies to discuss projects. The second semester culminates in a final presentation to the sponsor’s executives.
The Talent Incubator provides a tremendous opportunity to the students; sponsor companies often decide to hire impressive researchers for summer internships or even full-time positions.
Application instructions are announced every spring. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] or contact us for more information.
Interested students should attend a TIP presentation in the spring, and follow the application instructions shared at that time.
Companies interested in sponsoring a project and collaborating with student researchers can reach out to us learn more about partnership opportunities.
TIP Focus Areas
Customer Experience
Digital Strategies and E-Platform
Disruptive Innovation
Market Intelligence Growth
Operations and Supply Chain
Pricing and Finance
Sales
Business Development
Strategy
Supplier and Channel Management
Why Join TIP?
Program Benefits for Students
- Earn money for building your skills and increasing your value as a potential employee
- Perform research in an area of your interest
- Develop critical research, project, and time-management skills
- Apply concepts, theory, and tools just learned in courses to a practical project environment
- Acquire an edge over competition on the future job market
- Secure foundation for future success
Program Benefits for Sponsors
- Employ teams composed of top students, faculty, and researchers to gain access to new and innovative ideas
- Discover and share best practices
- Cultivate a team that is knowledgeable about your company’s practices
- Access a pipeline of skilled, motivated potential employees
- Spread awareness throughout the Industrial Distribution Program
Current Sponsors
Past Sponsors
