Research Intern Internships
Research intern internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working researchers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software, Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, and Investment & Asset Management, with Meta, Honda Research Institute USA, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory among the employers posting roles now.
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Grant Writing and Research Intern
Saint Paul, Minnesota | 10–20 hours per week | $15 per hour
Reports to: Program Development Manager
Work arrangement: On-site in Saint Paul, Minnesota | Duration: Minimum six-month commitment
About Project Pathfinder
Project Pathfinder, Inc. (PPI) is a nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to preventing sexual violence and supporting safer communities through specialized treatment, prevention, and community partnerships.
The opportunity
Help PPI identify funding opportunities, develop compelling proposals, and organize evidence supporting our programs. Grant development is the primary focus, complemented by program research and copywriting.
What you will do
· Research government grants, requests for proposals, foundations, and corporate giving programs.
· Screen opportunities for eligibility, program fit, deadlines, award size, match requirements, and reporting obligations.
· Maintain a funding calendar and opportunity tracker with recommendations for staff review.
· Draft letters of inquiry, proposal sections, program descriptions, and supporting materials.
· Gather approved budgets, program details, and outcome measures from finance and clinical staff.
· Prepare cited research summaries on behavioral health access and violence prevention.
· Organize reusable proposal content and assist with grant reporting schedules and draft progress reports.
· Help with copyright and trademark protection for PPI’s curricula, program materials, names, and branding by organizing documentation, researching registration requirements, and supporting applications under staff direction.
What you bring
· Current student or recent graduate in law, legal studies, English, communications, public health, social work, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field. Law students and recent law graduates are encouraged to apply.
· Strong writing, editing, research, and source evaluation skills.
· Attention to instructions and deadlines; comfort using word processing and spreadsheet tools.
· Interest in using AI tools to support funding research, proposal drafting, and research summaries, with careful verification of sources and results and protection of confidential information.
· Grant writing, legal research, or experience with copyright, trademarks, or nonprofit matters is welcome but not required; academic research and writing are relevant.
Learning and supervision
Work directly with PPI’s Program Development Manager and build close working relationships with the entire leadership team. Wear many different hats through assignments across funding research, grant writing, copywriting, program research, and grant reporting to understand how funding and program development work together. The Program Development Manager provides supervision and review. Leadership selects opportunities and authorizes submissions and commitments; clinical staff review treatment-related claims. All interns must protect confidential information and communicate respectfully about the people we serve.
How to apply
Send your résumé, a brief statement of interest, and a writing sample; an academic paper, research summary, or proposal is welcome. Submit materials to Laraine Baker-Pennington at lbakerpennington@projectpathfinder.org. Use “Grant Writing and Research Intern” as the subject line and include your weekly availability and desired internship dates.
Pay: $15.00 per hour
Expected hours: 10.0 – 20.0 per week
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
Grant Writing and Research Intern
Saint Paul, Minnesota | 10–20 hours per week | $15 per hour
Reports to: Program Development Manager
Work arrangement: On-site in Saint Paul, Minnesota | Duration: Minimum six-month commitment
About Project Pathfinder
Project Pathfinder, Inc. (PPI) is a nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to preventing sexual violence and supporting safer communities through specialized treatment, prevention, and community partnerships.
The opportunity
Help PPI identify funding opportunities, develop compelling proposals, and organize evidence supporting our programs. Grant development is the primary focus, complemented by program research and copywriting.
What you will do
· Research government grants, requests for proposals, foundations, and corporate giving programs.
· Screen opportunities for eligibility, program fit, deadlines, award size, match requirements, and reporting obligations.
· Maintain a funding calendar and opportunity tracker with recommendations for staff review.
· Draft letters of inquiry, proposal sections, program descriptions, and supporting materials.
· Gather approved budgets, program details, and outcome measures from finance and clinical staff.
· Prepare cited research summaries on behavioral health access and violence prevention.
· Organize reusable proposal content and assist with grant reporting schedules and draft progress reports.
· Help with copyright and trademark protection for PPI’s curricula, program materials, names, and branding by organizing documentation, researching registration requirements, and supporting applications under staff direction.
What you bring
· Current student or recent graduate in law, legal studies, English, communications, public health, social work, public policy, nonprofit management, or a related field. Law students and recent law graduates are encouraged to apply.
· Strong writing, editing, research, and source evaluation skills.
· Attention to instructions and deadlines; comfort using word processing and spreadsheet tools.
· Interest in using AI tools to support funding research, proposal drafting, and research summaries, with careful verification of sources and results and protection of confidential information.
· Grant writing, legal research, or experience with copyright, trademarks, or nonprofit matters is welcome but not required; academic research and writing are relevant.
Learning and supervision
Work directly with PPI’s Program Development Manager and build close working relationships with the entire leadership team. Wear many different hats through assignments across funding research, grant writing, copywriting, program research, and grant reporting to understand how funding and program development work together. The Program Development Manager provides supervision and review. Leadership selects opportunities and authorizes submissions and commitments; clinical staff review treatment-related claims. All interns must protect confidential information and communicate respectfully about the people we serve.
How to apply
Send your résumé, a brief statement of interest, and a writing sample; an academic paper, research summary, or proposal is welcome. Submit materials to Laraine Baker-Pennington at lbakerpennington@projectpathfinder.org. Use “Grant Writing and Research Intern” as the subject line and include your weekly availability and desired internship dates.
Pay: $15.00 per hour
Expected hours: 10.0 – 20.0 per week
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
Research Intern Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Meta112
- Honda Research Institute USA37
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory34
- ByteDance27
- General Motors (GM)21
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software11
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals5
- Investment & Asset Management4
- Education3
- Science & Research2
Tips for Your Research Intern Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large employers in pharma, tech, and finance open summer research intern applications in the fall, sometimes as early as September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings regularly across the full calendar year rather than waiting for a single peak season.
Build a documented project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for research intern roles expect limited work history and weigh projects heavily instead. Prioritize two or three complete, documented examples that show your methodology, the tools you used, and the output, whether a GitHub repository, a written analysis, a published report, or a poster from a course or independent study.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to smaller companies running their own cohorts at the same time, since those roles rarely appear at university events and fill on their own timeline.
Practice your technical screen out loud before your first interview
Research intern interviews typically involve a technical or analytical screen, such as a coding exercise, a statistical reasoning question, or a walk-through of a past project. Practice explaining your reasoning step by step, not just arriving at an answer, since interviewers weigh how you think as much as the final result.
Target structured research internship programs at larger employers
Many large companies in biotech, tech, and consulting run formal research cohort or rotational programs designed to train people new to applied research. These programs recruit directly from universities, open early, and fill fast. Identify the ones aligned with your field and apply in the first wave when applications open.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 56% of the research intern internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you begin, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you're only reviewing roles you can actually take.
Research Intern Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a research intern internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A documented research portfolio, whether a GitHub repository, published analysis, or written report, gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where research recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a research intern internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is consistent performance on real research tasks, available headcount on the team, and acting on return-offer timelines before they close. Position for one by treating every deliverable seriously, without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for research intern internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers, particularly in tech, pharma, and finance, recruit summer research interns the preceding fall, meaning applications open in September and October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round and it pays to check regularly.
Are research intern internships paid?
Most professional research intern internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements do exist, typically at nonprofits or academic labs, so check the listing details before applying.
What should a research intern internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history. For research intern candidates, that means linked code repositories, published analyses, written reports, or poster presentations that show your methodology and tools. Add relevant coursework, technical skills, and any lab or independent study experience. Keep it to one page.
Are there remote research intern internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 44% of the research intern internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote research cohorts fill quickly, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a research rotational internship program?
Some larger employers, particularly in pharmaceuticals, biotech, and technology research divisions, run structured rotational internship programs that place interns across multiple teams or departments in a single summer. These programs are designed for people new to applied research, recruit heavily from universities, open early, and are competitive, so apply in the first wave when they post.
Can international students get research intern 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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