Organizations interested in hosting interns first register with the MLSC to gain access to our database of prospective interns to review applications, interview candidates, and select interns. Organizations approved for the MLSC’s Internship Challenge will automatically gain access to the Data Science Internship Program application database (the organization application is the same for both programs).

Companies can only hire one subsidized Data Science intern per Program Year for a period of up to four months. Note: the Data Science intern will count toward the limit on subsidized interns that can be hired through the Internship Challenge.

Research institutions can select up to four interns per Program Year, with a maximum of two interns per department/lab.

The program aims to provide internships that introduce students to applications of advanced data analytics and data science relevant to the life sciences. These opportunities should allow interns to answer questions and solve problems that would not be available without data insights and analysis. The work should go above and beyond the normal data collection and analysis that occurs through the course of traditional life science lab work. Skills fostered through these opportunities could include computational sciences, computer sciences, bioinformatics, etc. Host organizations are required to include a brief description of the internship which must be approved by the MLSC in order to qualify for funding.

Intern applications available for review in the database are first approved by the MLSC since candidates are required to indicate if they have proficiency in data science skills/tools such as the following: application software packages and libraries, database software, programming languages, and techniques such as data visualization, deep learning, machine learning, and statistical programming. Applicants must possess relevant qualifications to be eligible.

The MLSC will reimburse host organizations for pay rates of up to $20 per hour for interns pursuing or having completed their Bachelor’s degree, enrolled in a Master’s program or possessing comparable data science qualifications, for a maximum reimbursement of $12,800 per intern. Interns who have completed their Master’s degree or are doctoral candidates can have wages reimbursed up to $25 per hour for a maximum reimbursement of $16,000 per intern. Interns who have completed their Ph.D. can have wages reimbursed up to $30 per hour for a maximum reimbursement of $19,200 per intern. If interns have not completed their degree, host companies would be reimbursed at the rate just below the level of completion. For example, an intern who has not completed their Master’s degree would only be eligible for the $20 rate.

Funding is available on a first-come first-served basis, and allocated only after offer requests are approved by MLSC within the organization application.