Aug. 5, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by POET.

With summer drawing to a close, POET wishes the best to a new class of interns who briefly joined the company’s mission in changing the world.

Every summer, POET invites more than 20 university students to intern in a wide variety of roles. This year, there are an unprecedented 33 interns working at POET.

The program began in 2002, and POET has hosted more than 400 students in their internship experience.

“POET’s internship program is thoughtfully designed to provide POET interns with opportunities to thrive at POET and beyond,” said Katie Wiseman, POET CARE senior talent acquisition partner.

“Our program events and activities assist interns in acclimating to the company by learning about POET’s business model, culture and values.”

POET hosts 10 events throughout the summer for interns. These events range from learning how bioproducts are made, networking skills, emotional and physical well-being in the workplace and how to develop a healthy work/life balance. From a professional development standpoint, these events support interns as they transition from academics to their professional career. They foster the attributes necessary to be a leader at work, home and in their communities.

“We want our interns to have the tools to someday land their dream job, to earn that promotion and to be self-aware and confident in their professional abilities,” Wiseman said.

Coming from all over the country, POET interns receive hands-on experience in their field and the opportunity to work with an innovative and renowned industry-leading company.

Lily Cutler, a recent graduate of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, has interned with POET twice, first as a plant intern and temporary lab technician at POET Biorefining – Groton near Aberdeen and currently as a temporary lab technician in the research lab at Scotland in southeast South Dakota.

“My first summer working with POET was phenomenal,” Cutler said. “I was able to experience different aspects of the plant operations and had experiences I wouldn’t have had through college alone. It led me to the research internship I’m in now. Its been amazing to be working in the place where POET got its start after seeing where it is now and where the company is going. I love POET’s mission of being a good steward of the earth and leaving it in a better way than we found it.”

Cutler encourages her peers and students looking for an internship to apply to POET.

“I’d tell others interested in POET not to hesitate to apply. One thing about POET is there are so many different facets of the company. You may surprise yourself in where you fit best and what you enjoy doing.”

POET’s internship program is more than just a resume boost for these students. While some internships consist of getting coffee or making spreadsheets, POET’s internship program focuses on giving students as much real-world experience as possible. Interns participate in engaging projects that use what they have learned in school and supplement their education with new opportunities to develop their skills.

“Many of our team members employed with us today started their careers as interns themselves,” Wiseman said. “It’s a great way for POET to develop future talent with the same drive and passion we do in leaving the world a better place than we found it. Interns bring a fresh perspective to POET and are provided professional freedom to engage with their cohorts and contribute real value to the company by resolving challenges, being innovative and weaving in their unique attributes.”

POET is dedicated to creating future leaders and field experts. The internship program seeks to foster an environment of learning and leading to give these young people a head start into their career goals and aspirations. Opportunities to apply for POET internships can be found at poet.com/careers.