The CITRIS Workforce Innovation Program helps UC students pursue world-changing research and accelerate their careers.
The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS) leverage the research strengths of the University of California campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Merced and Santa Cruz, and operate within the greater ecosystem of the University and the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley. The Workforce Innovation program offers select University of California students the opportunity to inform their career decisions through eight-week paid internships, where they’ll build in-demand skills through on-the-job experience. Participants will receive training in leadership and project management, and will be supported throughout the internship program by dedicated CITRIS staff, as well as the community of peers in their cohort.
CITRIS and the Banatao Institute invite undergraduates from all majors at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced and UC Santa Cruz to apply for placements in one of five areas of emerging IT innovation important to the state of California: aviation, climate and energy, digital health, robotics, and semiconductors.
Students who represent the rich diversity of the University of California, including women, people from underrepresented backgrounds, Pell Grant recipients, undocumented students and first-generation students, are encouraged to apply.
Applications are due Monday, Jan. 30. Join the virtual info session on Tuesday, Jan. 10, noon–12:30 p.m. Host companies are need. Partners from industry, startups, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, national labs and campus labs and research facilities are welcomed. Partner organizations may apply to host up to four interns. Click here to apply.
Internship areas
- Aviation: Expanding use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), electrification of flight, leveraging data to improve air transport
- Climate and Energy: Improving energy efficiency, water use, environmental monitoring, food tech, ag tech, decarbonization of transportation and other industries
- Digital Health: Delivering quality care and improving access, expanding data analytics and telehealth technologies
- Robotics: Augmenting human experience and capacity with automation and sensing
- Semiconductors: Advancing next-generation micro- and nanoelectronics and related emerging technologies, including quantum computing
Intern expectations
- Earn $6,000 for participating in the Workforce Innovation Program
- Receive real-world experience (remote or in-person) at an established company, startup, national lab, campus lab, government agency or nonprofit engaging in an emerging area of innovation
- Participate in a series of co-curricular workshops to gain communication and leadership skills
- Learn practices to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset before and during job placements
- Work on projects to add to professional portfolio
- Provide a fresh perspective and creative ideas to address concrete problems
- Network with peers and industry professionals
Host organization obligations
- Provide a structured internship experience focused on active mentorship
- Ensure that 75 percent of work scope is experiential learning and no more than 25 percent of duties are administrative in nature
- Complete a brief, 30-minute training in best practices for hosting interns to maximize student experience
- Commit to providing a welcoming and inclusive work environment
- Conduct at least two professional reviews — one at midpoint and the other during the last week of the internship
Benefits to Host Organizations
- ACCESS to top UC student talent from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds vetted by faculty and staff
- EXPAND capacity to work on projects and gain fresh perspective
- MENTOR proof-of-concept research in critical R&D areas in your industry
- GAIN management experience of overseeing an intern with support provided by CITRIS
- RECOGNITION in marketing materials as inaugural partners
More information is available here.
