GradFUTURES Micro-Internships in Industry

Students working in a common work space

Pursue experiential learning experiences with select private-sector partners.

This experiential learning partnership program provides paid, part-time industry internship experience and an opportunity to apply discipline-specific training to interdisciplinary project(s) while working under the direction of an industry mentor. You will receive one-on-one mentoring and coaching, and gain exposure to organizational dynamics and leadership strategies while shadowing and participating in meetings and/or presentations. 

As an intern, you will work collaboratively on projects and learn from staff while being responsible for high-quality, on-time completion of project work that has an impact on the field. This opportunity will last for a predetermined number of weeks during the summer or academic year—and for a predetermined number of hours per week in compliance with the Graduate School's employment policies. Industry partners agree to flexible scheduling for the duration of the internship so as to allow you to prioritize your academic commitments. The expectation is that the experience will be mutually beneficial: host organizations benefit from the diverse ideas and training of graduate students in conjunction with meaningful deliverables.

Hours, Compensation & Eligibility

With faculty adviser approval, and in compliance with the Graduate School’s employment policy,  Ph.D. students may participate in a paid, external internship/fellowship with a private-sector organization for up to 10 hours per week. International  Ph.D. students may be subject to additional limitations based on work authorization. The organization agrees to pay the Ph.D. student directly for hours worked at an hourly rate for the duration of this fellowship/internship. 

To be eligible, you must have:

  • Faculty Advisor approval 
  • Work authorization to work in the United States (International graduate students must meet with their Davis International Center adviser to confirm eligibility)
  • Availability to work Monday through Friday with a flexible 10-hour/week schedule, as mutually agreed upon with the mentor/supervisor 

Interview & Selection Process

  1. Please visit the links below to review the information and internship opportunities at each partner organization. Apply to the program via the GradFUTURES website.
  2. After eligibility and faculty adviser approval has been confirmed, complete an application and confidentiality forms on the partner organization's website.

Organizations will review applications and select candidates in accordance with their agreement with GradFUTURES and nationally accepted equitable recruitment and selection processes. 

Related Programs

GradFUTURES Star

In addition to Micro-Internships in Industry, the Graduate School offers a range of immersive experiences, all structured to support the timely completion of your degree program. Most of the fellowships are offered throughout the academic year and/or during the summer, and include University Administrative FellowshipsCommunity College Teaching Fellowship​​​​​s​, Higher Education Leadership FellowshipsSocial Impact Fellowships, and Pre-Matriculation Internships.

Funding Note and Graduate Student Employment Disclaimer

All graduate students must adhere to the Graduate Student Employment policy when participating in an opportunity that is compensated or funded by an external entity. This includes participating in internships and receiving compensation from private sector organizations, paid positions at national government labs or research institutes, and research assistantships funded by institutions outside of Princeton. Graduate students must obtain approval from their faculty adviser prior to acceptance of a position and must also complete an External Opportunity Application Form (link found on this site). Faculty advisers may submit a note of support using this form. Additionally, all international graduate students must review and comply with guidelines on the Davis International Center’s Employment Page so as not to risk violating their visa immigration status.