The pre-application for the 2026 STEM@GTRI High School Summer Internship Program is now open. The online pre-application is required for any student who wishes to be considered for a 2026 internship placement. Students must complete the pre-application before January 18, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST. Complete the pre-application.

Georgia 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 at the GTRI Atlanta campus, Cobb County Research Facility, and the Warner Robins field office with the goal of providing students with real-world experiences in science and engineering research. GTRI faculty and staff 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 on topics ranging from piezoelectric systems to rapid prototyping, from robots and drones to the physics of radar emissions. 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 GA school systems work alongside students and GTRI mentors. Student interns have the opportunity to learn more about working in a STEM field by attending a workplace orientation, participating in lab tours throughout Georgia Tech, attending trainings on topics such as soldering and assembly tools, and interacting on a regular basis with GTRI researchers. 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 Internship Program Co-Directors, Therese Boston and Dr. Erick Maxwell, at support.hsi.stem@gtri.gatech.edu.

Eligibility Requirements

• Show proof of citizenship or US person status (NISPOM 2-208, EAR Part 772, and ITAR 120.15).
• Be a Georgia resident attending a public, private, charter, or home school in Georgia.
• Be at least 16 years old by Sunday, March 29, 2026 - No exceptions.
• Be in the high school graduating class of 2026, 2027 or 2028.
• Have reliable transportation to assigned work location (Housing is not provided).
• Be able to work from Monday, June 8, 2026 to Friday, July 17, 2026, during Georgia Tech's regular business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm).
• Be available to work 24 hours/week for five weeks (more than 24 hr/wk will not be approved).
• Attend an all-day STEM@GTRI orientation on Monday, June 8, 2026.
• Attend and participate in an all-day final presentation on Friday, July 17, 2026.

PLEASE READ: The dates above are notional (approximate). Final dates will only be reflected in the pre-application.

Conditions of Employment

• GTRI will rescind your internship offer if you miss, either in whole or in part, the all-day mandatory STEM@GTRI orientation.
• Interns may not be jointly enrolled in the Georgia Tech Ignite Summer Program.
• Interns are not allowed to work on weekends or after hours (work will only be permitted M-F 8am - 5pm).
• Remote work (i.e. work from/at home, while traveling, or telework) will not be permitted at anytime.
• Interns must attend any lab-specific safety training upon hire and work-start, i.e. wet-lab training.
• Interns are not allowed to work on Institute Holidays, see https://hr.gatech.edu/payroll/.
• Interns are not allowed to work: June 19, 2026, which is an Institute Holiday.
• Interns are not allowed to work: June 29-30 & July 1-3, 2026, which contains an Institute Holiday.

Notices

• All applicants will be required to upload a resume at the end of this application in a PDF format.
• The pre-application closes on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
• To be considered, your pre-application must be 100% complete before the pre-app closes.
• Completion of a pre-application does not guarantee employment.
• If your profile matches an opportunity, a GTRI mentor may contact you for a phone screen.
• Applicants do not select projects. Project descriptions will be given during the phone screen, if selected for an interview/phone screen.
• Summer applicants will be notified of their internship-application status on Sunday, March 29, 2026 .
• 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.
• GTRI does not sponsor H1B visas.
• Please direct all employment eligibility questions to GT Human Resources at 404.385.1111.

Pre-Application Requirements

The purpose of the student profile and pre-application is to match high school students with a summer job opportunity. Only students who complete the pre-application before the deadline will be eligible for an internship opportunity. Completion of the pre-application does not guarantee employment. Interested students are required to provide a resume, personal statement, and letter of recommendation. The pre-application has more details about each component and how they should be included.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Info

• How long does the internship last? How many hours do I work per week?
  This is a five-week internship program that takes place over a 6-week period. Interns do not work 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.
• Can I work more than 24 hours a week?
  No, students are only approved to work 24 hours a week.
• How many intern positions are open for the internship program?
  On average, we place 60-70 students each year.
• Is this a paid internship?
  Yes, this is a paid internship program.
• Is housing provided?
  STEM@GTRI does not provide housing for interns.

Eligibility

• My 16th birthday occurs after the deadline specified. Should I apply?
  No. Students must turn 16 years old on or before the deadline.
• I reside outside the state of Georgia. Can I apply?
  To be eligible, 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

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

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 support.hsi.stem@gtri.gatech.edu.

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