Internship Strategies and Resources

1. InternshipStrategies and Resources Joann J. Ordille Avaya Labs joann@avaya.com April 1, 2006

2. Education BA, Applied Mathematics and Philosophy, The George Washington University Learned about computer science as an application of mathematics MA, History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh MS and PhD, Computer Science, University of Wisconsin Key: Computer Science is infinitely interesting provides unparalleled opportunities PhD Employment AT&T Bell Labs  Lucent Bell Labs  Avaya Labs Research Life Travel: Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America Sport: long distance road cycling, scuba diving, downhill and cross-country skiing, beginning to race automobiles Restore antique houses Personal Background of Speaker

3. Establishing goals in seekingan internship for a Masters student • Possible goals • Obtaining marketable experience • Expanding knowledge and contacts • Having fun • Making money • Things to target • Preferred subfield, e.g. communications, web applications, database applications • Preferred programming environment, e.g. java • Wider scope of possibilities than PhD internships

4. Establishing goals in seekingan internship for a PhD student • Possible goals • Working with an expert in your area • Rounding out experts advising you on your dissertation • Experiencing different research environments • Expanding knowledge and contacts • Having fun and making money • Things to target • Preferred research subfield, e.g. networking, testing, programming languages • Preferred working environment, e.g. government lab, communications company, software company • Preferred internship outcome: program, paper • Could be a Masters internship early in your academic work

5. Developing contacts with yourtargeted employers • More masters level internships are advertised, but it’s still helpful if you can establish contact in the organization • PhD level internships are often not advertised, so this can be essential • In both cases, use standard networking techniques: • Network at conferences and professional meetings, career days. • Network through contacts. • Always have a resume and business card available. • Etc.

6. Developing contacts with yourtargeted employers (Masters) • Use creative networking techniques • Do this well in advance of internship application season • Identify someone in the targeted company through networking contacts, company web sites, company HR office • Ask the person to spend an hour discussing career options with you, preferably in person • Develop a set of questions to discuss such as: • What education and experience are needed? • What do the jobs normally include? • What is the typical entry level job for a masters student? • What is the career development path? • Send a thank you letter. • Later, follow up with an note that you are looking for an internship and ask if the person knows of any opportunities.

7. Developing contacts with yourtargeted employers (PhD) • Use creative networking strategies • Do this well in advance of the internship application season • Identify a researcher who fits your selection criteria (through published recent papers, research lab sites, other networking) • Read the researcher’s recent paper or web site project description • Email the researcher with specific knowledgeable questions or comments • Thank the researcher • Later, follow up with an note that you are looking for an internship and ask if the person knows of any opportunities.

8. Distinguishing yourself at andafter your internship • Work independently • Show initiative • Discuss your ideas • Ask for help • Interact with the entire team • Find out early on what the final requirements are: • Working program? • Talk? • Paper?

9. Distinguishing yourself at andafter your internship • Time is short! You typically have only 10-12 weeks. • Plan your project in phases with intermediate checkpoints • Each checkpoint should have some deliverable such as a survey of the area, an analysis, a design, a program • Remember that if you have to give a final talk that will take up your last week • If you fall behind on an intermediate checkpoint, you need to reevaluate your plan with your supervisor/mentor • Can something be shortened or left out? • If you run out of time for an aggressive timeline, the result of your project will be your intermediate deliverable (but you will have a result to show!)

10. Distinguishing yourself at andafter your internship • Meet as many people as you can • Ask to speak with other researchers/staff in your area of interest (1 person for 1 hour each week?) • Attend talks, meetings and other opportunities to network • Continue your relationship with your mentor/supervisor after completing your internship • External mentor to help you with concerns in graduate school • Talk at conferences • Help with eventual job search and references

11. Resources • ACM Internship Listings • http://www.acm.org/crossroads/resources/internships.html • Research Labs with Participants at this Cohort (additional options for Masters Internships are noted) • AT&T – personal contact best for PhD Internships • http://research.att.com/ (select Join Us) • Avaya Labs – personal contact only application route for PhD Internships • http://avaya.com/ (select Avaya Lab on bottom bar, then Locations and Careers) • Masters: http://avaya.com/ (select Careers on bottom bar) • Google • http://www.google.com/jobs/intern.html • IBM – personal contact best for PhD Internships • http://www.research.ibm.com/about/career.shtml (Co-op and summer on right) • Masters: http://www.ibm.com/ (select Jobs at IBM, then Country, then University) • Microsoft • http://research.microsoft.com/ (select Careers, then Internships) • Masters: http://microsoft.com/ (select Careers on bottom bar, then Internships) • Sandia National Labs • http://education.ca.sandia.gov/ (select Internship tab, for California positions) • http://www.sandia.gov/ (select Students, then Student Internship Programs, for New Mexico)

12. Additional Research Laboratories • Additional options for Masters internships at the companies are also provided after “Masters:” • D. E. Shaw http://www.deshaw.com/weo.html • Fujitsu Labs • http://www.fujitsu.com/us/ (select R&D, then work for us, can also browse the country of interest) • Masters: http://www.fujitsu.com/ (browse the country of interest) • GE Labs http://ge.com/research/ (select entry level programs) • Masters: http://ge.com/ (select For Job Seekers, then either Internships and Co-ops or Student Opportunities – Outside of the US) • HP • http://www.hpl.hp.com/ (select Careers@HP Labs) • Masters: http://hp.com/ (select Jobs at HP, then Students and Graduates) • Intel • http://intel.com/ (select Technology and Research but no explicit internship application info) • http://intel.com/ (select Jobs on the bottom bar, then Just for Students or search for “Internship”) • Lucent • http://www.lucent.com/work/careerprograms.html#summer • NEC • http://www.nec-labs.com/careers/careers.html • Masters: http://nec.com/ (select Jobs) • Sun • http://research.sun.com/ (select Internships) • Masters: http://www.sun.com/corp_emp/zone/internships.html

13. Additional Research Laboratories • Argonne National Lab (ARL) • http://www.anl.gov/ (select Careers, then Student Programs) • Brookhaven National Lab • http://www.bnl.gov/education/ (select Education, then Programs) • Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBL) • http://www.lbl.gov/ (select Education Outreach, then Student Opportunities) • Lawrence Livermore National Lab • http://www.llnl.gov/llnl/education/ (select Education, then Undergraduate/Graduate Opportunities) • Oakridge National Lab (ORNL) • http://www.ornl.gov/ (select Jobs, then Student/Faculty Positions) • Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNL) • http://www.pnl.gov/ (select Jobs, then Student Opportunities) • US Army Research Lab (ARL) • http://www.arl.army.mil/ (select Outreach Programs, then Internship Co-ops) • US Naval Research Lab (NRL) • http://www.nrl.navy.mil/ (select Contact NRL, then Human Resources) • Unclear how to find an internship. Call HR and ask. • Institute for Defense Analyses • http://www.ida.org/ (select Employment, then Interns) • Inquire early (before deadline), because you will need to obtain a security clearance • Also inquire any opportunities in related organizations • Note: Fermi National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, and National Renewable Energy Lab emphasize physical sciences but may take interns in some specialized subfields of computer science.

14. Other Resources • Graduate School Information brochure and other information: http://www.cra.org/highlights/student.html • How to succeed in graduate school: http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.html http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-3/advice2.html • Fellowships: http://cag.csail.mit.edu/~amy/fellowships.html