As part of The Arch at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Alex Akopyan ’22, a computer science and games and simulation arts and sciences dual major, completed his spring 2021 semester-away internship opportunity at MathWorks in Natick, Massachusetts.

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.

To secure his semester-away opportunity, Akopyan utilized the resume review services available through the Center for Career and Professional Development. “It was easy, quick, and helpful,” he said. He also found the spring career fair to be particularly valuable in learning about new companies and gaining experience when speaking with recruiters.

When asked about his position with the Engineering Development Group (EDG) at MathWorks, Akopyan said, “It was great! A lot of the work I was assigned and the new skills I learned aligned with my major and the courses I took at RPI. I really enjoyed my internship because it was a nice change from school. It was interesting to see how my work fit into the EDG.”

For students trying to secure a semester-away experience, Akopyan advises them to start searching for opportunities early. “Apply to as many places as possible to increase your odds of landing a position,” he said. “This job-search strategy will provide more options and will give you practice for future interviews.”

After graduation, Akopyan plans on pursuing a security-related position at MathWorks. As a hobby, he would also like to pursue game development.