Finding Fulcrum: Building Bridges Between Students and Supercomputing Careers
In 2024, the EPCC Master’s Program launched Industry Days: an event designed to bring students face-to-face with supercomputing in the “real world.” No technical talks, no complex workloads, just practical, grounded conversations about careers, communication, and connection in HPC+AI.
The spark for this initiative? A simple question that instructors asked industry partners:
What skills do you value most in early-career hires? Answer: Communication.
This year’s sessions focused on just that: storytelling, interviewing, working across cultures, and choosing roles based not only on prestige but on the potential to learn and grow.
Here are a few key takeaways shared by the EPCC community and our own Flight Crew:
Narratives matter. From explaining your research to navigating job interviews, short, meaningful stories help make your journey memorable. Practice yours: Why you chose your path, what motivates you, and what you’re looking for next.
Open-ended questions work. Networking can feel awkward, especially when you’re new to the field. A simple “What did you think of the session?” or “I’d love your take on this topic…” can open doors.
Set expectations early. As our field becomes more global and collaborative, students talked about the importance of clarifying basics…Like work hours, project definitions, and cultural assumptions…Right from the start.
As always, the students from Edinburgh brought their A-game. We were energized by their questions, impressed by their thoughtfulness, and grateful for their openness about what they want to see in a supercomputing career. Huge thanks to the EPCC Educational Team for hosting another incredible event.
Continuing the Conversation: October in London
We left Industry Days inspired by the energy of EPCC’s students, and by the opportunity to keep building those crucial bridges between education and industry. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce “Rising Elements,” a student-focused session during this year’s Sustainable Reality conference on October 7th in London.
Featuring student speakers and real talk on hiring, retention, and the future of supercomputing careers, this session is a must for anyone interested in the next wave of HPC+AI talent.
