SLI Internships

1. Foothill College is listed as your primary institution and you are enrolled at Foothill College in spring 2025 for at least 6 units.
2. You must have demonstrated financial need through completion of the FAFSA, CA Dream Act or an explanation of financial need in the supplementary questions.
   • We encourage you to fill out the FAFSA for 2024-25 if you haven’t done so already. This will greatly improve your chances of positive review, especially if you show high need.
3. You should be a first-generation college goer – this can mean one or both parents did not graduate from college in the U.S. or outside the U.S.

Priority given to:

• Students who have not previously had an internship or company experience.
• Students who have the intent to transfer to a 4-year university.
• First time degree earners (no prior degree such as a Bachelor’s or Associate).

All internships will be either 6-7, 15, or 20 hours per week for nine weeks. All internships start the week of July 7, 2025 and run through the week of September 1, 2025. 

All internships require:

• Summer enrollment in ITRN 50 with Dr. Miloni Gandhi. Course tuition will be covered by the Science Learning Institute or your financial aid.
• A program orientation before the end of spring quarter and an in-person training before the internship starts (7/2/25). These are run by the Science Learning Institute.
• Submission of a final report of your internship experience at the end of the summer.
• Final presentation in early September for an audience of all interns and mentors in the program.
• Attendance at a biweekly (every other week) Zoom cohort seminar on professional development topics (included in your hours/week) – total of four seminars – all required.
• All above activities/ sessions are included in the total hours of your internship, on top of the hours on your internship project.

These are all required. You must sure you can attend for all these days. Summer vacations/ trips and transfer university start dates should accommodate these dates:

• Program orientation (2 options) - Wed, June 18 or Fri, June 20, 2025.
• In-person training for all interns - Wed, July 2, 2025
• All internships start: week of July 7, 2025
• All internships end: week of September 1, 2025
• Final presentations – Thurs, Sept 4 and Fri, Sept 5, 2025 (two options)

Before submitting the application, there are actions you can take to make the application process run more smoothly.  

1. Fill out the interest form to let us know you are thinking of applying. 
2. Review the “required skills” in the Project Catalog and make sure you meet the minimum requirements. For some projects, this may include advance coursework and for others there are minimal requirements.
3. Fill out academicworks general scholarship application.
4. Fill out supplemental application questions, including uploading your resume.
5. Upload resume and unofficial transcript to scholarship portal.
6. Full completion of the application, including name and contact information of a faculty/staff reference and upload of a resume. A full letter of recommendation IS NOT required.
7. You may use AI to help you brainstorm your essays, but DO NOT use AI to fully write your answers. AI strips your voice and authenticity, so we want to read essays that are from YOUR VOICE. 

For Summer 2025, please review the Project Catalog  (see above). Please review them carefully. You will be able to choose up to 5 projects that you are interested in, and you will indicate that in the application. You will also be expected to include a short interest paragraph for each project in your application. 

There are three types of projects and corresponding internship stipends:

• 6 - 7 hours per week for 9 weeks - $1200
• 15 hours per week for 9 weeks - $2800
• 20 hours per week for 9 weeks - $3700

Scholarship payments will occur in two installments and will depend on successful completion at each stage: one in the middle of the internship and one at the end after completion of the final report and final presentation.

Depending on your eligibility and the arrangement with the partner, even though this is called a "scholarship program," there will be different ways you will get paid:

• as a scholarship
• through student employment
• through temporary employee hiring
• directly through the internship partner in which you will have to complete their hiring paperwork

A team from SLI will work with the project mentors/ supervisors to review applications and then select candidates. Finalists may be contacted for an interview depending on the project. Review the Project Catalog for more details. Students may get more than one offer but can only accept one project. Final decisions will be made by end of May.