How to hire a research and development internship

How to hire a research and development internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step research and development internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a research and development internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new research and development internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a research and development internship do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the research and development internship you need to hire. Certain research and development internship roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a research and development internship to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a research and development internship that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of research and development internship salaries for various roles:

   Type of Research And Development Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Research And Development Internship	Computer and information research scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, medicine, science, and other fields.	$14-22
   Data Scientist	A Data Scientist analyzes information from multiple sources in order to gain maximum insight that can give the company a competitive advantage. They work in different domains, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and finance.	$36-71
   Computer Scientist	A computer scientist is responsible for analyzing network infrastructure and designing efficient computer systems according to clients' specifications and business functions. Computer scientists inspect the safety and security of the organization's database, ensuring its protection from malicious activities and unauthorized access... Show more	$35-69

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • C++
   • Java
   • PowerPoint
   • HTML
   • CSS
   • Donor Database
   • R
   • Data Analysis
   • Html Css
   • UI
   • JQuery
   • Math
   • Front End

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop multiple python programs to automate data analysis of device battery readings, piston/valve friction data, and bolus accuracy data.
   • Improve the user experience of the website by designing interactive contents with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP.
   • Develop a file viewer program using PERL, HTML and JavaScript.
   • Develop pop-up preview for each product implement by JavaScript, PHP, JQUERY and SQL.
   • Develop the sign up page for a customer with software professionals using HTML, CSS, and AngularJS.
   • Strengthen knowledge in area of expertise (JavaScript, CSS, HTML) and broaden knowledge in area of development.

   More research and development internship duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your research and development internship job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A research and development internship can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, research and development interns' average salary in north carolina is 35% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level research and development interns 34% less than senior-level research and development interns.
   • Certifications. A research and development internship with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a research and development internship's salary.

   Average research and development internship salary

   $38,489yearly

   $18.50 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level research and development internship salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average research and development internship salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Pennsylvania	$46,624	$22
   2	Arizona	$41,354	$20
   3	Oregon	$40,770	$20
   4	Colorado	$40,205	$19
   5	New Jersey	$39,601	$19
   6	Minnesota	$39,428	$19
   7	New Mexico	$39,181	$19
   8	Rhode Island	$39,111	$19
   9	Connecticut	$38,912	$19
   10	Illinois	$38,203	$18
   11	Texas	$38,018	$18
   12	Michigan	$37,137	$18
   13	California	$37,022	$18
   14	New York	$35,987	$17
   15	Massachusetts	$35,845	$17
   16	Kansas	$35,670	$17
   17	Ohio	$35,581	$17
   18	Wisconsin	$35,313	$17
   19	Georgia	$35,123	$17
   20	Utah	$35,078	$17

   Average research and development internship salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sandia National Labs	$55,398	$26.63	94
   2	BD	$47,656	$22.91	4
   3	Sesame Workshop	$46,335	$22.28
   4	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$46,304	$22.26	11
   5	CONMED	$45,819	$22.03	6
   6	PSEA	$45,752	$22.00	32
   7	BNSF Railway	$45,411	$21.83	2
   8	Marvin and	$44,736	$21.51
   9	Finastra	$42,872	$20.61	7
   10	Gillette	$42,741	$20.55
   11	Formlabs	$42,492	$20.43	2
   12	Terros Health	$42,383	$20.38
   13	Mars	$42,108	$20.24	4
   14	L3Harris	$41,952	$20.17	40
   15	Coherent	$41,908	$20.15	10
   16	Rheem Manufacturing	$41,779	$20.09
   17	General Mills	$41,524	$19.96	2
   18	Bioventus	$41,343	$19.88
   19	Johnson & Johnson	$41,187	$19.80	54
   20	Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.	$41,038	$19.73

4. Writing a research and development internship job description

   A research and development internship job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a research and development internship job description:

   Research and development internship job description example

   INTERN, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT - SUMMER 2023ORRVILLE, OH Why Smucker is the Place for You Looking for a world-class internship program at a Fortune 500 company? At Smucker, we're committed to offering you that world-class experience and the opportunity to: Learn: Realize your potential in a collaborative, supportive environment where you're part of the Smucker Family and challenged to be your best.
   
   Grow: Receive hands-on training from a dedicated mentor and connect with peers and leaders across our Company. Lead: Contribute to high-profile projects that support our strategic priorities along with opportunities to get involved in many ways including our continued progress on the journey to become the organization we expect to be on inclusion, diversity and equity. We firmly believe that an inclusive environment and diverse organization strengthens our Company and enables every employee to reach their full potential. You deserve a positive and encouraging work environment. One that allows you to deliver your best work and become your best professional self. That is exactly what you will find at Smucker. You'll also benefit from intern housing assistance, should you qualify based on proximity, to ensure you have a positive experience and are financially able to afford the cost of living for the length of your internship. Your Opportunity
   
   As an intern within our Research and Development organization you will have the opportunity to independently manage and conduct all technical functions of a small research project, as well as analyze data and report on key findings. You will also complete literature research related to assigned project, preparation of samples and the gathering of analytical measurements. You will summarize and present project study results, documenting results and observations in a laboratory notebook.
   
   You will gain meaningful and translatable experience from the real work you will be provided, relationship management, and professional development.
   Is this Role a Fit for You?
   Are you a driven student with a passion for delivering high-quality work while expanding your skillset and maintaining a continuous learning mindset? Are you eager to share your opinions (and have them heard) and make a positive impact through your work? Do you share in our dedication to continuous improvement and growth? If so, you are the type of student we are looking for to join our Internship Program!
   The ideal candidate for this role will have:
   A Sophomore or Junior standing in school with requisite educational experience in Food Science or related field A GPA of 3.0 or higher A well-rounded skill set including strong time-management, ability to keep detail oriented records, proven leadership abilities, good organization, and project management skills Learn More About Working at Smucker Our Total Rewards Benefits Program Our Thriving Together Philosophy Supporting All Impacted by Our Business Our Continued Progress on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity
   
   Follow us on LinkedIn

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right research and development internship for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with research and development interns they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit research and development interns who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your research and development internship job on Zippia to find and attract quality research and development internship candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit research and development interns, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with research and development internship applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new research and development internship

   Once you've decided on a perfect research and development internship candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new research and development internship first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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