Scientist Internships
Scientist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working scientists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software and Mining & Natural Resources, with ByteDance, TikTok, and Singing River Health System among the employers posting roles now.
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Research Scientist Intern, Optical System Design (PhD) Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with researchers and cross-functional partners, including communicating research plans, progress, and results
- Publish research results and contribute to research that can be applied to Meta product development
- Develop next-generation AR/VR displays with an emphasis on advanced simulations and prototyping to prove new concepts and understand the perceptual impact of those concepts
- Collaborate with larger Meta Reality Labs Research team to explore novel solution space for AR/VR devices
- Explore the application of at least one of the following: geometrical optics, diffraction optics, polarization optics, illumination, optical system design
- This position will have an emphasis on advanced simulations and prototyping to prove new concepts and the perceptual impact of those concepts
Minimum Qualifications:
- Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
- 2+ years of experience in at least one of the following areas of optical research: physical optics, geometric optics, aberration theory, optical system prototyping
- 2+ years of experience with optical design programs such as Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, LightTools, FRED, or similar
- 2+ years of experience with scientific programming languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python, and Mathematica)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as first-authored publications at leading workshops or conferences
- 2+ years of experience in system-level prototyping work, including hands-on prototyping of benchtop optical components
- Experience working and communicating cross-functionally in a team environment
- Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as first-authored publications at leading workshops or conferences such as JOSA, SPIE, OSA, IEEE, CLEO, or similar
About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$7,313/month to $12,667/month + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
Research Scientist Intern, Optical System Design (PhD) Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with researchers and cross-functional partners, including communicating research plans, progress, and results
- Publish research results and contribute to research that can be applied to Meta product development
- Develop next-generation AR/VR displays with an emphasis on advanced simulations and prototyping to prove new concepts and understand the perceptual impact of those concepts
- Collaborate with larger Meta Reality Labs Research team to explore novel solution space for AR/VR devices
- Explore the application of at least one of the following: geometrical optics, diffraction optics, polarization optics, illumination, optical system design
- This position will have an emphasis on advanced simulations and prototyping to prove new concepts and the perceptual impact of those concepts
Minimum Qualifications:
- Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
- 2+ years of experience in at least one of the following areas of optical research: physical optics, geometric optics, aberration theory, optical system prototyping
- 2+ years of experience with optical design programs such as Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, LightTools, FRED, or similar
- 2+ years of experience with scientific programming languages (e.g., MATLAB, Python, and Mathematica)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as first-authored publications at leading workshops or conferences
- 2+ years of experience in system-level prototyping work, including hands-on prototyping of benchtop optical components
- Experience working and communicating cross-functionally in a team environment
- Proven track record of achieving significant results as demonstrated by grants, fellowships, patents, as well as first-authored publications at leading workshops or conferences such as JOSA, SPIE, OSA, IEEE, CLEO, or similar
About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$7,313/month to $12,667/month + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
Scientist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Mining & Natural Resources
Tips for Your Scientist Internship Search
Apply months before the internship starts
Large employers open summer scientist internship recruiting the preceding fall, often in August through October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings consistently from early fall onward so you are not applying to roles that already have full cohorts.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Without much work history, documented projects are your strongest proof of ability. For scientist candidates, that means completed experiments, data analyses, or research write-ups with clear methods and results. Host them somewhere accessible, a GitHub repository, a research poster, or a linked report, so recruiters can assess your work directly.
Work campus resources and direct applications together
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside that campus activity widens the pool of scientist internships you can realistically reach.
Practice the scientist intern screen out loud
Scientist intern interviews often involve a technical screen covering experimental design, data interpretation, or analytical reasoning. Practice answering out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as whether you land on the right answer.
Target structured internship pipelines early
Larger research and industry employers run formal scientist internship cohorts designed to train people new to the field. These rotational and university-partnership programs recruit early and fill fast. Identify the programs that fit your background and apply in the first wave, before general awareness of the deadline drives up competition.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 92% of the scientist internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting through listings, then filter by location and work type so you are spending time only on roles you can actually accept.
Scientist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a scientist internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For scientist candidates, documented project work with clear methods and results gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a scientist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it is performance on real project work, team headcount at the end of the internship, and how early you signal interest in returning. Position for a return offer by delivering results and asking your manager about the timeline, without counting on it as a certainty.
When should I apply for scientist internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes opening applications in August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings consistently and applying as soon as a role opens gives you the best chance before a cohort fills.
Are scientist internships paid?
Most professional scientist internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses what the internship pays, that information appears directly in the listing, so you can factor it into your decisions without having to ask upfront.
What should a scientist internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools, methods, and outcomes, for scientist candidates, that means linked analyses, published data sets, lab reports, or GitHub repositories showing your actual work. Add relevant coursework, any presentations or posters, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote scientist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 8% of the scientist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast once posted, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get scientist 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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