How to Become a Research Internship

Yes, research interns generally get paid. However, whether a research intern is paid or not largely depends on the specific company and internship.

In a research internship, a person will undertake research work for a company to work on. In most research work, the intern will work under a professor independently or in the RD department of the company.

While it has been common for these research internships to be unpaid, the conversation around unpaid internships has been shifting, so it is easier to find paid research internships.

However, the biggest factor about whether an internship is paid or unpaid often depends on whether a person is getting university credit for the internship. In many cases, if a person is receiving credit for the internship, it will be unpaid.

This does not apply to all research internships, however, and it is important to carefully research all the internship options available to choose what will work best for you and your career goals.

Typically, by nature, internships do not require prior experience. But if you are applying for a competitive internship where there are likely many other qualified applicants, a person will need to stand out.

Research-intensive internship programs for undergraduates offered by medical and graduate schools are always in high demand. Therefore, to get one, it is important to put in the best application possible.

This means taking what experience you have -- education, extra-curricular activities, and any prior work experience -- and showing how that will make you a qualified intern through your personal statement. A person can do this by drawing out transferable skills and highlighting personal achievements within these areas.

Additionally, a person can focus on getting the best letters of recommendation that they can find for their application. Ensure that the people you ask for letters of recommendation are from people who know you well, like you as an individual, and are qualified to speak to your educational and work achievements.

You have to be at least 18 years old to be a research intern. Typically companies hire research interns that are going into their junior and senior years of college.

These students typically have the career knowledge and soft skill sets needed to explore their career options through internships.

Since research interns assist in conducting research, compiling data, implementing ideas, and helping write papers, they must be experienced enough in these tasks to quickly pick up new ones.

The main qualifications to become a research intern are interest in the research subject and strong communication skills. Additionally, research interns usually need to be enrolled in a relevant degree program to qualify.

The short-term goal of a research intern position is to gain academic credit or work experience. The long-term goal is to turn the internship into a career.

Research interns at Microsoft contribute to the various research projects that Microsoft has available. These can include artificial intelligence, economics, and security, privacy, and cryptography -- whatever a person is interested in related to the product Microsoft produces.

At Microsoft, research interns are putting research into practice alongside some of the best researchers in the world. They will assist in forging new paths in whatever research area they are in by collaborating with other interns and researchers to ask the right questions.

In Microsoft's twelve-week internship, students are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the community's vibrant life.

Research interns must be junior or senior students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information science, or a related major.

Also, by the start of the internship program, candidates must have at least two years of programming experience, completed courses in calculus, probability, statistics, or machine learning, or demonstrated training in at least one social science methodology.

Research interns need a wide variety of skills to be successful, but the most important is the ability to learn and take correction and good listening skills. The goal in a research internship, at least for the intern, is to learn as much as possible about the company, role, and industry and assess whether it is a good fit.

This means that learning and taking corrections alongside good listening skills are the most important skills for an intern as they directly relate to this primary goal.

Other important skills to have as a research intern include data collection and data analysis skills, as well as critical thinking skills. All of these are needed to do the research work that a person was hired to do.

Finally, interpersonal and networking skills are crucial to a successful research internship. One of the goals of an internship is to develop industry connections and networks that will prepare a person to successfully navigate the job market upon graduation.

This means meeting and engaging with as many contacts as possible during the internship.