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Industry Fellows Program

Our Industry Fellows Program bridges the gap between academic learning and professional practice by pairing seasoned industry professionals with student development teams. Fellows work primarily with graduate students who serve as Tech Leads for capstone projects, while also providing guidance to undergraduate students enrolled in our CS capstone course.

Industry Fellows provide hands-on mentorship to graduate Tech Leads, developing the next generation of technical leaders through collaborative problem-solving and professional guidance. Here, noted speaker, author, and developer relations expert Jessica Kerr reviews code with graduate student Siri Chandana Garimella, a Tech Lead for Open Source with SLU.

What makes this program unique​

  • Official University Affiliation: Fellows receive university ID cards, email access, library privileges, and co-working space access on campus
  • Specialized Training: Mentorship training helps both mentors and students get more value from their collaboration
  • Structured Commitment: Clear expectations and regular touchpoints create consistency and accountability
  • Sustained Relationships: Multi-semester partnerships allow for deep, ongoing professional development
  • Mutual Benefit: Fellows gain fresh perspectives, networking opportunities, and the satisfaction of shaping future developers

Program Structure​

The program operates on a structured academic calendar. Each fall semester begins with onboarding and training in August, followed by team matching in September. Throughout the fall, Fellows provide mentorship in technical leadership, architecture decisions, code review practices, and product stewardship through regular online engagement and required on-site events. The spring semester focuses on final project phases as students begin job searching, with Fellows offering career guidance, industry insights, and professional networking opportunities. The program concludes each spring with student showcase presentations in April and Fellow recognition events in May.

Graduate students serving as Tech Leads receive focused mentorship in developing their leadership capabilities, technical decision-making skills, and professional communication. Undergraduate capstone students gain industry exposure, real-world perspectives on software development practices, career development guidance, and networking connections.

See The Role for Fellow qualifications and benefits, Application Process for how to apply, Key Dates for the current timeline, and Apply when you're ready.

Questions? Contact us at oss@slu.edu.