The Energy Hub, a sparkling new space on the first floor of the Gross Chemistry Laboratory at Duke, was bustling on a cold night this January for TechConnect, a popular bi-annual event to bring students and industry leaders together for an evening of networking and education.

Held on January 25th, the event attracted over twenty top-tier employers -- including Cisco, Stryker, Capital One, NetApp, and many more -- and more than 300 students. "It was very good student attendance, and the companies were all pleased and excited," says Kirsten Shaw, assistant director of Corporate and Industry Relations in the Pratt School of Engineering and co-organizer of the event.

The evening began with a panel featuring four speakers from the biotechnology, healthcare, electronics, and construction industries. Participants then spread out around the Energy Hub for two hours of informal networking, a chance for students and employers to connect and share information in a relaxed, comfortable setting.

This spring's event also featured TechConnect Industry/University Partner Day, held on the following day, in which employers were invited to host various events on campus. Accenture, Capital One and IMC Financial hosted student lunches while Microsoft, ICF International and Stryker held open office hours to meet with students for Q&A, resume reviews, and mock interviews. "Companies were impressed with the caliber of students who attended and how prepared they were with questions and networking skills," says Shaw. "I know several companies were quickly filling up interview schedules!"

TechConnect is co-organized by the Department of Computer Science, the Pratt School of Engineering, and the Duke Career Center. And mark your calendars now -- the fall event is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2011.

View the TechConnect 2011 Spring web site