College students are often expected to have experience before landing their first professional opportunity. But as so many students have experienced, these opportunities to apply skills before securing a full-time role – or even an internship – can be hard to come by.

Xtern Challenge helps close this gap by giving students a chance to apply the skills they’re developing to a real business problem. Participants get to work alongside industry professionals and even demonstrate their skills to potential employers.

Applications are open for the next Xtern Challenge, taking place September 10–11 at MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) headquarters in Carmel. Fifty students will be selected to compete for up to $10,000 in prize money and connect directly with MISO hiring managers and executives.

Applications close August 24.

Click here to learn about the Challenge →

What is Xtern Challenge?

Xtern Challenge is a work-based learning competition where college students collaborate in teams to solve real problems developed by Indiana companies.

Employers increasingly need early-career professionals who can navigate ambiguity, collaborate and turn their knowledge into results. However, the entry-level experiences that help students build those skills are becoming harder to find. Xtern Challenge gives students a structured opportunity to gain that experience while showing a potential employer what they can do.

All 10 student teams from TechPoint’s 2025 Xtern Challenge pose together outside MISO headquarters in Carmel, Indiana. The photo includes the first-, second-, and third-place teams holding their award checks following the competition.
Participants in last year’s MISO Xtern Challenge pose with their prize checks.

For the upcoming Challenge, participants will be placed on cross-university teams and given approximately two weeks to develop a solution for one of two problems facing MISO and the energy industry. Teams will then spend two days at MISO refining their work, meeting company leaders and presenting to a panel of judges.

About MISO

MISO manages the electricity superhighway across the Central U.S., helping ensure reliable power for 45 million people. Its team operates the electric grid, manages a robust energy market and plans for the future of the energy industry through advanced technology and research.

Choose Your Challenge

Students may apply for one of two prompts:

Intelligent Navigation of MISO’s Public Information: Build an AI-powered tool that helps people more easily find and use public data on MISO’s website.

Large Loads: Analyze a synthetic dataset showing rising energy use and recommend how MISO should respond while protecting the reliability of the electrical grid.

This Xtern Challenge is especially relevant for students studying data science, computer science, computer engineering, artificial intelligence, software engineering, statistics, mathematics, economics, energy policy or public policy. Experience with Python or AI tools and an interest in strategy, policy or the energy industry may also be valuable.

Students do not need previous energy-industry experience to apply.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must:

  • Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program
  • Be at least a sophomore if enrolled as an undergraduate
  • Be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship
  • Be available in Carmel all day September 10-11
  • Be able to complete virtual team work before the in-person Challenge

Students attending colleges outside Indiana may be considered if they are currently working in Indiana, including through a co-op.

What else should applicants know?

Students apply individually, and TechPoint will create balanced teams based on applicants’ skills and experience. Teams will be notified on or before August 28.

Participants will use their own computers and may use AI tools, public datasets and other available resources as long as they document their methods and sources.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided during both in-person days. Limited housing assistance may be available for students traveling more than 50 miles.

Winning teams will share up to $10,000 in prize money, but the opportunity extends beyond the competition. MISO will receive participants’ resumes and project submissions as it considers candidates for future internships. Every participant will also leave with hands-on experience, new professional connections and a substantive project to discuss in future interviews.

Apply by August 24

A polished resume is required to apply. Students should have their resume reviewed by their university’s career services office before submitting it. You can also use TechPoint’s resume guide, which includes a downloadable template as a starting place.

Learn more and apply for the MISO Xtern Challenge.

Read about the 2025 MISO Xtern Challenge →

Applications are closed.
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