Three internships at one of the world's leading plant science research centers weren’t what Amarachi Ejimadu expected when she attended a networking event during her sophomore year at Principia College.
Ejimadu heard about a Party with the Plants event hosted by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center that would offer excellent networking opportunities, but the ticket prices were a bit outside of a college student’s budget. Ejimadu turned to Principia's Career Center and the Center for Sustainability, Ecology, and Chemistry. The departments provided Ejimadu with a stipend to ensure the biology and chemistry double major could attend.
The connections Ejimadu made at the event helped her land a summer internship in the Danforth Center’s Field and Laboratory Learning in Plant Science program, where she worked on research advancing the understanding of heat stress and photosynthesis in C4 plants. Her work with the lab continued during her six-week winter break, and now as a rising senior, she returned this summer for a third internship.
“I’ve been conducting real-world research at a globally renowned plant science facility,” Ejimadu shared on a LinkedIn post. “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that being a scientist isn’t just about knowing how to use the equipment. Most jobs will offer training on equipment, but the mindset of a scientist must be self-developed and continually refined.”
At a time when, according to Forbes, students have better chances of being accepted into an Ivy League school than getting an internship, 99% of Principia students who sought an internship last year received an offer. Opportunities like Ejimadu’s are not uncommon.
This summer, Principia students earned internships with organizations ranging from global consulting firms and healthcare leaders to arts organizations and national media outlets, including World Wide Technology, The Muny, 3M, Stifel, The Christian Science Monitor, and Mayo Clinic. Among them, sophomore Cole Dannull secured a natural resource internship with WSP, the world's leading environmental consulting firm, after competing against thousands of applicants.
Those outcomes are supported by a Career Center that helps students build professional networks, identify opportunities, prepare resumes, and connect with employers who recognize the value of a Principia education.
“Employers consistently tell us that Principia students stand out because they communicate effectively, collaborate with teams, and adapt quickly in professional environments,” said Carrie Silver-Stock, director of the Career Center.
As students and families increasingly evaluate the return on investment of a college education, internships offer more than hands-on experience. According to Gallup research, students who complete internships are twice as likely to have a job waiting for them after graduation.
Within six months of graduating, 97% of Principia’s class of 2025 were employed or continuing their education.
“We get to know students and what they’re looking for, and that individualized attention is a huge differentiator from other schools,” said Silver-Stock. “For students, that support often translates into more than an internship -- it becomes the foundation for a career.”
For Ejimadu, that foundation began with a stipend and a networking event. Three internships later, it has evolved into meaningful scientific research, professional connections, and momentum for whatever comes next.