Data Science Internships in Boston: A Comprehensive Guide

For students in Boston interested in data science, internships offer invaluable opportunities to gain practical experience, build professional networks, and explore potential career paths. This article provides a detailed overview of data science internship opportunities in and around Boston, catering to various academic levels and interests.

Opportunities for College and Graduate Students

Several programs and companies in the Boston area offer internships specifically for college and graduate students seeking experience in data science.

BU Spark!

Boston University's BU Spark! program offers paid opportunities each semester, allowing students to work while earning their degree. These positions provide valuable experiences, foster relationships, and enhance learning and development. Multiple internships are available during the summer and winter breaks. Currently enrolled BU undergraduate (rising seniors) or graduate students can apply through BU.

SMART Scholarship Program

The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship Program is a one-for-one commitment. For every year of degree funding, the scholar commits to working for a year with the Department of Defense (DoD) as a civilian employee. Scholarships are awarded for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years, with award amounts varying.

Amazon Internships

Amazon offers a variety of internship opportunities for students in fields ranging from direct work in sustainability initiatives (solar, EV, and geothermal) to marketing, communications/social media, and data analysis.

Read also: Data Theory at UCLA

Data Science Internship Program

This program focuses on increasing the availability of data science talent in the life sciences. The program creates new internship opportunities for qualified candidates, including those at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate levels, by enabling research institutions and small companies to hire paid interns for up to four months. The program connects employers with prospective interns through an online platform and reimburses eligible companies (100 or fewer employees in Massachusetts; no more than 250 globally) and research institutions for intern wages. Companies with greater than 100 FTEs in Massachusetts are also encouraged to use the portal to search for unsubsidized interns. The program aims to provide opportunities for intern exposure to advanced data analytics and data science applications to the life sciences. Prospective interns must demonstrate proficiency in advanced analytics skills and technologies based on their work experience and/or academic training. Internships can be part- or full-time and can take place for companies any time during the program year, which runs from May 1 through April 30. Prospective interns submit an online application, including their resume and identification of specific data science skillsets. There is no application deadline since internship placements are rolling. Approved employers will review applications and contact candidates directly if they are interested in hiring them for an internship.

Opportunities for High School Students

For ambitious high school students in Massachusetts considering a trajectory in data science, internships can demonstrate passion and determination to learn and engage with the subject beyond the classroom curriculum. Here's a list of programs offering real-world experience in data science and data science research. These programs include a mix of virtual and in-person opportunities.

1. Ladder Internships

Cost: \$1990 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Application Deadline: Upcoming summer cohort deadline is May 12 (tentative)
Program Dates: 8 weeks, June to August
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.

Ladder Internship is a selective program for high school students to work with start-ups on data science-related topics. Run by Harvard alumni, the program offers a chance to work with companies from places like YCombinator and Stanford. Ladder Startups work in fields including machine learning and AI, technology, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, media and journalism, and more. As part of the internship, each student will work on a real-world project and present their work at the end. Throughout the program, interns receive guidance and support from their managers, either 1-on-1 or in a group. Note that as a Ladder Intern, you will engage in a coaching and work-based model - a component that sets it apart from most internships in this list. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

2. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging’s Summer Research Internship

Cost: No Cost
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 31 (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: June 17 - June 28 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students over the age of 14 by the start of the program. Student leads must also be students over the age of 14 and may also be undergraduate students with a computer science background. Student leads must be California residents.

This internship offers an extended independent research internship opportunity. While you can apply as a regular intern, you can additionally apply for the ’Student Lead’ role where you can also assist with project leadership along with an AIMI mentor!

3. NASA Internships

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagements provides internship opportunities at all their locations around America. If you’re located near a NASA facility, you can opt for an internship in a research facility near you. However, if you live away from one, NASA now conducts virtual internships as well! You can filter through their database for opportunities open to high school students. If you’re looking for an internship in Massachusetts, you can look for internships in their Electronics Research Center which works to develop electronics for their space program and improve communication between universities and other facilities that NASA interacts with.

4. Building-U High School Internship

Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines (apply as soon as possible)
Program Dates: Usually 3 months from June to August (can be extended if the intern is keen)
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.

The Building-U High School Internship is oriented around its mission to compile a comprehensive database of opportunities including internships, scholarships, contests, and educational programs specifically tailored for high school students. The organization is looking for interns to assist in the administrative/business aspect of the organization. Once selected as an intern, you join one of their teams - these include R&D roles, student ambassador roles, Business Development roles, and others. These teams might concentrate on areas like digital marketing, content writing, web development, or data analytics. This structure not only allows interns to work in areas that align with their interests and skills but also promotes teamwork, leadership, and project management skills.

5. Veritas AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase

Cost: \$4,900
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Upcoming summer cohort deadline is May 19 (tentative)
Program Dates: Summer cohort - June 3 (tentative)
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible. Students must have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program or have prior Python knowledge.

The Veritas AI Fellowship, while not an internship, is a great opportunity for you if you are enthusiastic about exploring the fields of machine learning, data science, and artificial intelligence. This program, designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni, provides a stimulating environment for students through project development, and personalized 1-on-1 mentorship. Over 12-15 weeks, students enrolled in the AI Fellowship engage in an independent AI research project, combining AI with a field of their choice. Veritas AI also provides publication support to high-school level journals! The program is structured in phases to optimize learning and project development. Students work intensively on their projects, utilizing one-on-one mentorship to address challenges in coding and further develop their ideas.

6. Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT

Eligibility: Students who are rising seniors (you will have to apply in the middle of your junior year). High school seniors are not eligible to apply. It is recommended that PSAT Math Scores be at least 740 (or higher) and Evidence-Based Reading/ Writing Scores be 700 (or higher). ACT math scores should be at least 33, and verbal scores should be at least 34. However, you can offset lower scores through recommendations, high school grades, and science activities. Note. Citizens/Permanent Residents and International Applicants.

While not a traditional internship, RSI is a 6-week, fully-funded program, where you can conduct independent research in computer science (or other STEM subjects) and take college-level coursework. Within the first week, you will have the opportunity to experience extensive STEM Classes by accomplished faculty. However, the main section of RSI is the 5-week research internship, where you can choose to pursue projects in computer science under the mentorship of experienced scientists and researchers. The program culminates with delivering your research in conference-stye oral and written reports.

7. American Collegiate Adventures Internship Program

Cost: \$1995 to \$6495
Location: Boston or New York
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Program Dates: June to July
Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in a US high school

At American Collegiate Adventures (ACA), you have the option to apply for internships in over 20 industries that take place in either Boston or New York. Through the four-week program, you can expect to be provided with an opportunity to upskill within the field of data science and take part in other activities with peers and mentors. For participants in the program, ACA also organizes weekend excursions and activities, making for a holistic learning opportunity for the students. To encourage students to learn as much as they can through their interactions, ACA maintains a 10:1 student-to-staff ratio, unlike most other internship programs available. Students can expect to work on their internship projects for 30 hours each week.

8. ASPIRE Program by Johns Hopkins

**Citizens are eligible to apply.

The ASPIRE program by Johns Hopkins is an internship that allows high school juniors and seniors to experience STEM Careers in a supportive and holistic environment. Each intern is paired with APL staff and participates in workshops, problem-solving in groups, mentorship sessions with top faculty, and hands-on projects. We recommend that data science enthusiasts apply for the Mathematics & Data Analysis area of placement. Although the in-person internship is held in Baltimore, you can also opt to complete the internship virtually!

9. MITES Semester

**Citizens or permanent residents. Strong academic record (While they have not specified a cutoff, you can expect similar expectations of RSI - PSAT Math Scores to be at least 740 (or higher) and Evidence-Based Reading/ Writing Scores to be 700 (or higher). ACT math scores should be at least 33, and verbal scores should be at least 34.)Passion for science, technology, engineering, and math - which is demonstrated through extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. Note. MIT strongly encourages students from these backgrounds to apply:underrepresented backgroundsundeserving students (defined as those from low socioeconomic means)families with an absence of science and engineering degreesstudents who are potentially the first family member to attend collegeand students from high schools with low admittance rates to top-tier colleges (especially from rural or predominantly minority high schools).

Another program by MIT, MITES Semester, is a 6-month hybrid STEM program where you can deep dive into science and engineering disciplines. In this program, you will choose one project-based course, followed by a supplemental core course, which can either be in data science, computer science, calculus, physics, science writing, or communication! Through this program, you can delve into interdisciplinary subjects that involve computer science. For instance, past projects have included data analysis, computational biology, embedded systems, machine learning, robotics, thermodynamics, climate change, and more! This is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience conducting research within the field of data science.

Essential Skills for Data Science Internships

Prospective interns should demonstrate proficiency in advanced analytics skills and technologies based on their work experience and/or academic training.

Application Tips

Start Early: Many internships have deadlines months in advance.
Tailor Your Application: Highlight relevant skills and experiences for each specific internship.
Showcase Your Passion: Demonstrate genuine interest in data science through extracurricular activities, projects, and essays.
Network: Attend industry events and connect with professionals in the field.

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