High School Summer Internship


The pre-application for the 2024 High School Summer Internship Program closed on January 21, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. We are no longer accepting pre-applications for the 2024 summer program.

If you would like to be notified when the pre-application for summer 2025 opens, please complete this form.


STEM InternsGeorgia high school students who are at least 16 years old may be eligible to apply for five-week paid summer internships hosted in GTRI labs. Interns work on projects in GTRI laboratories and the GTRI Warner Robins field office with the goal of providing students with real-world experiences in science and engineering research. GTRI researchers mentor students by working with them on projects to engage them in first-hand STEM experience, with the goals of helping bridge the gap in Georgia’s STEM workforce by creating awareness of STEM career opportunities.

Internship projects focus areas include robotics, computer science, physics cybersecurity, rapid prototyping, and app development. Students may build educational kiosks that provide educational information on night vision or help build piezoelectric tiles to create energy for the NASA visitors center. 

In select cases, teachers from local school systems work alongside students and GTRI researchers to develop a finished research project, as well as a curriculum that will incorporate those learning concepts back their the classrooms.

Intern at Final PresentationsStudent interns have the opportunity to learn more about working in a STEM field by attending a workplace orientation, participating in lab tours in throughout Georgia Tech, attending trainings on topics such as soldering and circuit board design, and interacting on a regular basis with GTRI researchers as well as Georgia Tech graduate or undergraduate students.

Interns and their teams present the results of their work in an end of the summer final presentation.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the STEM@GTRI team, Therese Boston and Dr. Erick Maxwell, at stem.gtri@lists.gatech.edu.

 

Pre-Application Requirements

Pre-application Period: December 8, 2023 - January 21, 2024
Interested high school students must complete a pre-application by January 21, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. The purpose of the student profile and pre-application is to match high school students with a GTRI job opportunity. Once a student completes and submits the pre-application, the information will be visible to GTRI faculty/staff who have internship opportunities. Once the GTRI faculty/staff member identifies a student as a potential intern, he/she will contact the student by email and/or phone for an interview. It is not unusual for multiple applicants to interview for a single position. As a result, interviews can take several weeks. Completion of the pre-application does not guarantee employment.

Please note: Students should not send unsolicited emails or calls to GTRI employees for internships. Only reach out if you have a direct referral. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Be a Georgia resident attending a public, private, charter, or home school in Georgia
  • Be at least 16 years old by April 1, 2024.
  • Be in the high school graduating class of 2024, 2025, or 2026.
  • Have reliable transportation to assigned work location (Housing is not provided).
  • Be able to work in-person from June 10 to July 19, 2024, during regular business hours (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.). Work is not permitted on weekends or after hours.
  • Be available to work 24 hours/week for five weeks (more than 24 hr/wk will not be approved).
  • Be available to attend an all-day STEM@GTRI orientation on June 10, 2024.
    • Note: If you miss the orientation, your GTRI internship offer will be rescinded.
  • Be available to attend and participate in an all-day final presentation on July 19, 2024.
  • Attend any lab-specific safety training (if it applies to their activity/location), i.e. wet-lab training.
  • Show proof of citizenship or US person status (EAR Part 772 and ITAR 120.15)
    • Note: Most, but not all, positions require US Citizenship or status as a US Person because of the nature of the project or information to which the student may have access during the internship.
    • Note: GTRI does not sponsor H1B visas

 

Frequently Asked Questions

General Info

How long does the internship last? How many hours do I work per week? What is the time commitment?
The program dates are June 10 - July 19, 2024. This is a five-week internship program that takes place over a 6-week period. Interns do not work on Juneteenth (an Institute Holiday) or the week of July 4th. Interns must be available to work up to 24 hours a week during the approved work hours of Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

What are other required intern commitments?
Attendance at the first-day orientation (June 10, 2024) and final presentations (July 19, 2024) is mandatory for all interns.

Can I work more than 24 hours a week?
No, interns are only approved to work 24 hours a week.

How many intern positions are open for the summer?
Annually, the summer internship program cohort is approximately 55-60 interns.

Is this a paid internship?
Yes, this is a paid internship program.

Is housing provided? Will I be living onsite?
STEM@GTRI does not provide housing for interns. It is the intern's responsibility to commute to and from their GTRI worksite.

Should I reach out to GTRI faculty and staff to request a mentor?
We kindly ask that you avoid sending multiple emails or making phone calls directly to our employees for mentorship inquiries. Such outreach should only be done if you have a specific referral, which should be clearly mentioned in your communication.

Do I get to select my own project?
Internship applicants do not get to select their projects in advance. GTRI faculty/staff will contacts applicants that match their project needs.

May I work remote/virtually for the internship program?
The Summer Internship Program is an in-person program.

Eligibility

My 16th birthday occurs after the specified deadline. Should I apply?
No. Students must turn 16 years old on or before the deadline. There are no exceptions.

I reside outside the state of Georgia. Can I apply?
No. Georgia-based STEM@GTRI positions conduct research using funding from the State of Georgia and by contract are required to be Georgia residents who attend high school in Georgia. Therefore, all GTRI summer interns are required to be Georgia residents who attend a high school or home school in Georgia.

I will be visiting Georgia in the summer and will live with a relative. Am I eligible to participate?
No. Students must be a Georgia resident who attends a school in Georgia or is homeschooled in the Georgia.

Pre-application

If I miss the pre-application deadline, can I still apply?
The pre-application deadline is final. Because the timing is set based on requirements from Georgia Tech Human Resources, we are unable to reopen the pre-application past the deadline.

Will I need to submit a resume?   
Yes, you will be required to upload a resume in PDF format for the pre-application.

Are letters of recommendations required to participate in the internship program?
No, letters of recommendations are not a requirement for the program.

After Applying

What is the selection process?    
The selection process is a multistep process, involving reviews of the pre-application, interviews with the GTRI mentor, and then completion of final application. If an candidate receives and accepts an informal offer, the internship program directors(s) will initiate the Georgia Tech Tech Temp Hiring process, through which a formal offer of employment will be made.

There are nine (9) different GT/GTRI departments and offices involved in the GT hiring process and most will communicate with candidates through email. It is critical that candidates are timely in their response to all e-mails received from GT/GTRI. As such, employment offers (both informal and formal) are conditional. Offers are based on candidates successfully completing all the requirements of the hiring process in a timely manner.

Other Opportunities

If I’m not selected, are there other opportunities offered by STEM@GTRI, GTRI, or Georgia Tech?         
Please visit the STEM@GTRI or CEISMC website for updates or consider applying again next year if you are eligible.

 


 

If you have any questions, please reach out to the STEM@GTRI team, Therese Boston and Dr. Erick Maxwell, at stem.gtri@lists.gatech.edu.

 

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