College of Engineering Dean Pamela M. Norris stopped to learn about a student-designed automated pill bottle-filling system during the college’s May 18 Research & Innovation Showcase.

College of Engineering Dean Pamela M. Norris learns about a student-designed automated pill bottle-filling system during the college’s Research and Innovation Showcase.

From capstone projects to long-term partnerships

Article by Hillary Hoffman Photos by Mikey Reeves June 05, 2026

New corporate partnership program helps companies connect with student talent, faculty expertise and technical resources

In one room, University of Delaware engineering seniors pitched renovation plans for the Newark Free Library to a panel of construction experts. Down the hall, juniors demonstrated a fully automated pill bottle-filler system designed with mentorship from experts at Norwalt Automation Group. In another room, a pair of first-year students presented a prototype toy lawn mower developed with support from a major U.S. toy manufacturer.

The projects, presented May 18 at the College of Engineering’s Research and Innovation Showcase, reflected more than student ingenuity. They offered a glimpse into how companies are increasingly working with UD students and faculty to solve real-world problems, develop a talent pipeline and advance new ideas.

To build on those relationships, the college has launched a Corporate Partnership Program that creates clearer pathways for companies to engage with engineering and computer science students, faculty, research expertise and specialized facilities. The initiative provides a single point of entry for organizations seeking everything from capstone project sponsorship and workforce development opportunities to long-term research collaborations and strategic partnerships.

“The best partnerships work when everyone brings something important to the table,” said Dean Pamela M. Norris. “Companies bring real challenges and a clear understanding of where their fields are headed. Our faculty, students and facilities provide technical expertise, fresh ideas and the ability to help move solutions forward.”

From left: Elaine Nelson, Katie Meier, Dean Pamela M. Norris, Jenni Buckley and Tracy Shickel

At the College of Engineering’s Research and Innovation Showcase, Dean Pamela M. Norris (center) joined, from left, Elaine Nelson, Katie Meier, Jenni Buckley and Tracy Shickel as faculty, staff, students and industry partners gathered to explore student research and design projects.

The new initiative is designed to make those connections easier to establish and sustain.

“We have always been engaged with industry partners here at UD Engineering, but we’re looking to take these partnerships to the next level,” said Jenni Buckley, professor and associate dean for corporate engagement and entrepreneurship in the college. “We want to make it easier for industry to access the talent and problem-solving capacity they need, while giving our students the kind of experience that prepares them to contribute from day one.”

The Corporate Partnership Program offers a structured way for companies to invest in an ongoing relationship with the college and University through tiered annual memberships. It serves as a coordinated point of entry for companies seeking technical expertise, talent development opportunities and research collaboration.

The goal is to help companies identify the right starting point and connect with the most relevant people, programs and resources across the University that fit their priorities.

“We’re seeking to offer a curated, concierge-level service to match each company to what it needs,” said Tracy Shickel, UD’s associate vice president of corporate engagement. “There are different mechanisms for engagement depending on a company’s priorities.”

Talent pipelines

For many companies, student projects serve as the starting point for a broader relationship with UD, said Shickel. By sponsoring student projects, organizations gain fresh perspectives on real-world challenges and build connections with future employees, while students boost their professional experience and confidence.

“I like that we don't just do the work to do the work,” said Emelia Van Slyke, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. “Companies actually use what we've created.”

Working with industry partners gave her confidence that her work can have real-world impact and allowed her to hone the communication skills that she thinks helped her stand out during her job search. After graduation, Van Slyke will begin working as a design engineer at Caterpillar, a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment.

Seniors presented building and design plans to an industry review panel during the Research and Innovation Showcase, gaining feedback from construction professionals.

Long-term partnerships

Integer Technologies attended the showcase as it develops a collaboration with UD centered on ocean robotics and unmanned systems. The company hopes to establish an office at UD’s Lewes campus and begin the new collaborative program in 2027.

“The ocean science and ocean robotics expertise at UD is unique,” said Dillon Watring, Integer’s director of research. “We have expertise on the software and integration side, and UD’s expertise in undersea robotics is strong, so partnering allows us to bring those capabilities together.”

Watring said the partnership would also support workforce development.

“We’ll hire students as interns, and then we have a very clear pipeline to hire engineers who we’ve already worked with,” he said. “Our goal is really to focus on an established, lasting partnership and staying in the state for a long time.”

A continuum of collaboration

Not every collaboration needs to be as large or long-term. Some companies may sponsor a single capstone project, seek access to specialized facilities or connect with faculty experts on a specific technical challenge. Others may pursue research collaboration, workforce development or a sustained presence at UD.

Through the Corporate Partnership Program, the college is creating clearer ways for companies to find the right starting point and build from there.