Application
RESEARCH FOR INTELLIGENCE & SECURITY CHALLENGES
SUMMER INTERNSHIP FOR HARD SECURITY PROBLEMS
NEW DATES! JUNE 3 — AUGUST 9, 2024
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland, College Park, is seeking outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges (RISC) Initiative internship program. This 10-week paid and mostly virtual program pairs students with faculty mentors from INSURE consortium member institutions and the Department of Defense (DOD) and Intelligence Community (IC) and offers the opportunity to be sponsored for a security clearance and to be considered for future employment with the U.S. government.
Competitively-selected RISC interns (RISCers) work in teams with mentorship from university faculty and government practitioners, tackling real security and intelligence problems hands-on. Project topics will be posed by government operators, and supported with realistic data sets and other materials. Over the 10-week period, students will conduct research and participate in lectures and regular team development meetings in a shared virtual work environment. The summer program concludes with several days of in-person activities in College Park, MD to discuss project outcomes with peers and visiting experts from DOD/IC and to gain greater context on how the work fits into government sponsors’ mission space.
The program is structured to facilitate interactions within teams, between teams, and with government sponsor representatives. Interns attend weekly seminars and regular team development meetings in a shared virtual work environment (though select projects may require on-site work). Interns then participate in final week briefings and activities in person (with travel support).
Given mutual interest between the sponsor and interns and available funding, RISC projects often continue into the academic year, sustaining connectivity between interns and sponsors through ARLIS.
ELIGIBILITY
We seek outstanding graduate and undergraduate students with expertise in the disciplines listed below. All U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited university program as of Fall 2023 — particularly rising juniors and seniors and early graduate students — are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Internships are a 40-hour-a-week commitment and second employment and summer courses are strongly discouraged. Candidates with questions should engage the RISC program office.
HOW TO APPLY
Selection criteria emphasize demonstrated strengths in relevant fields, experience working both independently and in teams, and demonstrated interest in contributing to national security.
After creating your RISClink account, you will need:
- A letter of interest describing:
- Your disciplinary focus (referencing the topic areas above);
- Experiences that have prepared you for success in an internship focused on intelligence and security challenges;
- Experience with machine learning, programming, and/or statistics (not required for all roles); and
- Anything else in your background that could be helpful for the selection committee to know.
- Your résumé,
- Copy of your transcript(s)*, and
(after submitting #1-3) - One recommendation letter** from a professor or former supervisor.
