APS/IBM Internship Application Process

Application

Applications are no longer being accepted. Please check back in the winter for the next cycle's application.

Information for Both Internships

This year we have increased privacy measures. We will not be using the application websites.

Please follow the directions carefully.

Please prepare a single file which contains the following:

1. Your resume (make sure you have your contact information correct!)
2. Your essay, in the same file
3. Your written list of STEM courses you have taken with dates and grades, still in the same file.

The information on these three components is in the additional information section of the web site. In your essay, say which internship you are applying to, the one for women or the one for under-represented minorities, or both if you qualify.

If you have already prepared these three as separate files, please just add them (concatenate them) to the resume file.

You may make this file into a pdf, or you may make this a Word file.

Please name the file in the following way, specific to you:
Lastname_Firstname_Major_University.pdf or
Lastname_Firstname_Major_University.doc
where you substitute your own name, major and University, for example:
Jones_Barbara_Bio_Georgetown.doc

Since we will see the full major and university in your resume, feel free to abbreviate in the file title, such as leaving out the word University if it is still clear what school you are from, and if you have a long major please try to shorten that too, while still making it clear. CS is Computer Science, Eng is Engineering, keep Physics and Chemistry as they are, Mathematics is Math, Biology is Bio, Applied can be Appl, etc.

When you are ready, and before the deadline, please send an email with your file as an attachment to: APS_IBM.voe67yo9jm0xj1hu@u.box.com

Don't worry about the text of the email or the subject line, because that won't get added to the Box folder, only the attachment.

If you need to update your application, just send another email with the updated attachment, and this time add the word update to the file name, as in Update_Jones_Barbara_Bio_Georgetown.doc.

Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to your applications.

Letters of Recommendation

Please see below for the letters of recommendation process:

For women: Please have your letters of recommendation emailed directly to apsibmin@us.ibm.com.

For minorities: Please have your letters of recommendation emailed directly to ibmurmin@us.ibm.com.

FAQ

Should I send everything (letters of recommendation, essay and application form) in one package?

Please use the application procedures to submit your essay, resume, and a list of STEM courses with dates and grades (please do not attach a transcript). Letters of recommendation from your professors should be sent no later than the January 31 deadline.

If I am eligible for both internship programs, do I have to apply twice?

Yes, each internship program is reviewed by a separate selection committee. If you qualify to apply for both, you will have to submit an application on each site and ask that your letters of recommendation be emailed to to ibmurmin@us.ibm.com for the underrepresented minorities internship and apsibmin@us.ibm.com for the women’s internship.

Who should I ask to write my letter of recommendation?

Two letters of recommendation are required. These can be from a STEM professor at your current college/university or a research mentor you have worked with at your university, another university, or a national lab or company. Letters from anyone at your high school or from non-STEM professionals will not be accepted. A letter from mentor who was a postdoc at the time might be acceptable; the student should write to Dr. Barbara Jones, Program Chair, at bajones@us.ibm.com to discuss, if that is the case.

What are you looking for in the essay?

In the essay, please tell us why you are interested in research and your chosen technical field, what do you like about it, what made you interested in it, what sort of science appeals to you, what you would like to do for a future career, and what kind of research experience you have had.

I am getting an error message or no acknowledgement when I submit my application. How should I proceed?

If you have any problem submitting your application electronically, please use your "back" button to return to the application and try again; if after at most three such tries you still have difficulties, please email Dr. Barbara Jones, Program Chair, at bajones@us.ibm.com.

When will I be notified about the internship?

The IBM selection committee will notify all applicants whether or not they are successful by April 15.

Eligibility

Are students at non-U.S. colleges and universities eligible?

No, IBM can only accept applications from students attending U.S. institutions. Students are not required to have U.S. citizenship, but their college/university must be in the U.S. IBM has no way of comparing grades or course programs from foreign universities. An exception can be made in certain cases for applicants from colleges in Puerto Rico.

I am a laboratory biology major. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, both computational biology and laboratory biology are acceptable as majors, as long as there is a biophysics or biochemistry emphasis.

I'm a math major. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, as long as you have had some applied mathematics courses, or if your math is for a computer science project. Applied math for the physical sciences or computer science is fine, as is math associated with quantum computing.

I'm an astronomy/astrophysics or aeronautics major. Am I eligible to apply?

No, we do not have any research projects currently in these areas.

I am currently a senior and plan to attend graduate school next year. Can I still apply?

One of the main goals of the internship is to benefit sophomores and juniors as they prepare to apply for graduate school. By the time you would be with IBM for the summer, your applications and acceptance to graduate school would be already long set. Consider applying to work for IBM during the summer using one of the regular summer positions, advertised on the IBM web page, or see the Society of Physics Students (SPS) listings.

Housing and Travel

Will I get any help in finding a place to live?

IBM provides housing assistance in two ways:

1. Suggestions on where to look and lists of housing availability provided by people living in the local area
2. Financial assistance grant to offset the high cost of housing in these areas. The amount of assistance varies each year, depending on various conditions including the local economy, IBM budget, distance of travel, etc.

While you will receive a financial assistance grant for relocation expenses, you are expected to budget your summer salary to include housing costs.

How much will I be paid for the summer?

Interns are paid a competitive industrial salary of around $8,000 or more for the summer.

How will I get to/from my internship every day?

Public transportation is available at all three internship sites. IBM Almaden recommends using a bicycle.

Other Questions

Email Dr. Barbara Jones, Program Chair, at bajones@us.ibm.com.