Research Assistant Internships
Research assistant internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working researchers and analysts, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Education, with IQT, Core4ce, and AeroVironment among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 7+ Research Assistant Internships
Worker Type
Supplemental
Job Description
Internship: Computational Modeling of Polymer Solution Behavior
Location: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Foundational Technologies Directorate
Project Overview
Join a multidisciplinary team at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for a high-impact internship focused on polymer physics. As a PhD-level intern, you will contribute to the computational polymer physics research team by modeling the rheological behavior of liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) in flow and under external electric fields. You will work with experimentalists to predict the molecular-level rheological response of LCPs and compare molecular dynamics simulations to experimental data.
Key Responsibilities
- Leverage molecular dynamics simulations to model the rheological behavior of LCPs.
- Refine simulated models to align with and explain experimental data.
- Actively engage with AFRL scientists, academic collaborators, and industry partners to refine research objectives.
- Document findings and potentially contribute to a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication.
Required Qualifications
- This position involves working within a government facility and requires US citizenship
- Currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a closely related field.
- Experience with coarse-grained polymer modeling
- Proficiency in Python and large-scale simulation software (e.g., LAAMPS).
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Preferred Skills
- Experience with modeling rheology of complex fluids and soft matter
- Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
- A record of research contributions in peer-reviewed journals
Clearance Level
No Clearance
The salary range for this role is:
$31 - $31AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
ITAR Requirement:
This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.
Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company matching, and flexible work schedule options. Depending on your business unit, role, and customer contract requirements, select programs may offer a 9/80 work schedule and paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.
We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.
Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.
About AV:
AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.
We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.
Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.
If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.
ITAR
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.Worker Type
Supplemental
Job Description
Internship: Computational Modeling of Polymer Solution Behavior
Location: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Foundational Technologies Directorate
Project Overview
Join a multidisciplinary team at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for a high-impact internship focused on polymer physics. As a PhD-level intern, you will contribute to the computational polymer physics research team by modeling the rheological behavior of liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) in flow and under external electric fields. You will work with experimentalists to predict the molecular-level rheological response of LCPs and compare molecular dynamics simulations to experimental data.
Key Responsibilities
- Leverage molecular dynamics simulations to model the rheological behavior of LCPs.
- Refine simulated models to align with and explain experimental data.
- Actively engage with AFRL scientists, academic collaborators, and industry partners to refine research objectives.
- Document findings and potentially contribute to a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication.
Required Qualifications
- This position involves working within a government facility and requires US citizenship
- Currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a closely related field.
- Experience with coarse-grained polymer modeling
- Proficiency in Python and large-scale simulation software (e.g., LAAMPS).
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Preferred Skills
- Experience with modeling rheology of complex fluids and soft matter
- Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
- A record of research contributions in peer-reviewed journals
Clearance Level
No Clearance
The salary range for this role is:
$31 - $31AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
ITAR Requirement:
This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.
Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company matching, and flexible work schedule options. Depending on your business unit, role, and customer contract requirements, select programs may offer a 9/80 work schedule and paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.
We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.
Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.
About AV:
AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.
We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.
Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.
If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.
ITAR
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.Research Assistant Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
Tips for Your Research Assistant Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large employers with structured research assistant programs recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before winter. Smaller companies and co-ops post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Starting your search in early fall puts you ahead of the heaviest competition for the most competitive cohorts.
Build a portfolio before you apply
At the intern level, documented project work carries more weight than a work history. For research assistant candidates, that means linked analyses, cleaned datasets with write-ups, literature review summaries, or annotated notebooks, whatever shows how you work through a problem. Recruiters need something concrete to assess when experience is limited.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors and career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and reduces your reliance on a single channel.
Practice your research assistant interview screen out loud
Research assistant intern screens often involve a technical or analytical exercise, walking through a dataset, explaining a methodology, or responding to a case about study design or data quality. Practice explaining your reasoning out loud, not just arriving at an answer, because interviewers weigh how you think as much as your conclusion.
Target structured research internship programs early
Larger employers in academia-adjacent industries, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies run cohort-based research internship programs designed to train candidates new to the field. These programs recruit early and fill fast. Identify the ones that fit your discipline, note their application windows, and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 33% of the research assistant internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you search, relocating for a summer cohort, staying local, or working remotely, then filter by location and work type so you're not sorting through roles you can't take.
Research Assistant Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a research assistant internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For research assistant candidates, a documented portfolio of analyses, datasets, or literature reviews gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a research assistant internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For research assistant interns, what actually drives it is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and understanding when return-offer decisions are made. Position yourself by delivering quality work and expressing clear interest early, without counting on an offer before it comes.
When should I apply for research assistant internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and tech firms with structured programs, recruit summer interns the preceding fall. Smaller companies and co-ops post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings consistently from early fall through spring gives you the widest window.
Are research assistant internships paid?
Most professional research assistant internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it. Academic and nonprofit settings sometimes offer unpaid or stipend-based arrangements, so reading each posting carefully tells you what a given role offers.
What should a research assistant internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools, methods, and data you used, link to published analyses, GitHub repositories, or written summaries where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework that maps to the role's subject area. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote research assistant internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 67% of the research assistant internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill quickly, so apply early and use the work-type filter to see them without sorting through on-site roles you can't take.
Can international students get research assistant internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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