UC workforce innovation internship program returns summer 2023 for its second offering

The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute invite undergraduates from all majors at UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Merced to apply to the 2023 Workforce Innovation Program (WIP). 

WIP is a paid summer internship that pairs selected students with established companies, startups, labs, and nonprofit organizations to carry out projects related to one of five identified emerging areas of information technology innovation: aviation, climate and energy, digital health, robotics, and semiconductors. Increasing diversity and inclusion of underrepresented communities in the technology industry is a key focus of the program.

Potential projects for the five different internship areas include expanding the use of drones to improve air transport, improving energy efficiency through green technologies, employing telehealth technologies to make healthcare more accessible, augmenting human experience and capacity in autonomous robots, and advancing micro and nanoelectronic technologies. 

Through the variety of hands-on opportunities and workshops offered during the eight-week, experiential learning program, students gain invaluable real-world experience and leadership skills. 

“This opportunity gave me the chance to apply my coding skills and see how diverse the robotic field is,” said Amrita Mohandas, a fourth-year computer science and engineering student at UC Merced, who was part of the program’s first cohort. “Once I finished the internship, I was far more confident in my application of computer science.”

CITRIS is holding a virtual info session on January 10 at 12 p.m. PST. All students interested in applying are encouraged to attend. The application deadline is January 30, 11:59 p.m. PST. Learn more.