Computer Science Major Completes Semester Away Experience at MathWorks
Computer Science Major Completes Semester Away Experience at MathWorks
May 13, 2020
As part of the inaugural class participating in The Arch at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Alex Christoforides ’21, a computer science major, completed his fall semester away internship opportunity at MathWorks in the Natick, Massachusetts, Lakeside Campus.
Best known for developing MATLAB and Simulink, MathWorks specializes in creating mathematical computing software. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs over 5,000 staff members in 29 global locations.
“My internship experience at MathWorks provided me with the opportunity to expand my technical horizons. It also afforded me the chance to participate in meetings to provide input and to help shape the direction of the software, making me feel valued and respected,” said Christoforides.
At MathWorks, Christoforides had the opportunity to participate in code reviews, a process that can be ubiquitously found throughout the software industry. During the reviews, he was able to dig deeper into code quality, optimizations, and general planning strategies.
Throughout his internship experience, Christoforides was able to build friendships and professional relationships. “The managers at MathWorks treated me more as a colleague rather than an intern. This inspired me to not only work harder, but to also become more immersed in the culture and invest in the mutual success of others to a higher degree,” said Christoforides.
When asked what advice he would give to future MathWorks candidates, Christoforides said, “I would recommend that they take advantage of their one-on-one time with their managers, cultivate relationships with their team members, and immerse themselves not only in what they are working on, but what others are as well.” He also recommends that candidates attend as many internal info sessions as possible. These sessions not only informed Christoforides about the numerous internal projects at MathWorks, but also helped to inform his decision about what type of software he would like to work on in the future.
This summer, Christoforides will be joining MathWorks again to pursue a second internship.
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About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, over 30 research centers, more than 140 academic programs including 25 new programs, and a dynamic community made up of over 6,800 students and 104,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include upwards of 155 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.