The Maui News

The Akamai Summer Internship program, which offers college students an opportunity to gain paid summer work experience at an observatory or company on Maui or Hawaii island, is seeking interested applicants.

The 8-week internship, also co-sponsored by the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, aims to develop a skilled science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce to meet the needs of the state’s growing tech industry.

More than 400 college students have participated in the Akamai Summer Internship program since its inception in 2003.

The high-tech sector is a vital engine to transforming Hawaii from being tourism-dependent to an innovation hub which can provide stable employment opportunities that can keep more of our local graduates from leaving our islands, said Doug Simons, director at IfA, in a news release. Hawaii astronomy sector, in particular, employs hundreds of local people and serves as a source of competitive employment. The Akamai Summer Internship program can be the first critical step in inspiring and opening career opportunities for our Hawai’i students.

A UH Economic Research Organization report released in April 2022 estimates astronomy had a total economic impact (output of goods and services) of $221 million in 2019 while supporting the employment of 1,313 residents.

The internship runs from June 11 through August 12. Applications are due on February 14.

Interns are paid a $4,000 stipend and are provided with housing if needed. Travel to and from their home island to an internship site is also provided.

Interns can also earn course credit from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

They complete their projects with a mentor at a company or observatory on Maui, Hawaii island, or with Hawaii telescope partners at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

According to a news release, all Akamai interns complete a 1-week intensive preparatory course in Hilo, where they gain the skills needed to be successful in the workplace and meet other interns along with Akamai staff and mentors.

Mentors will help interns gain work experience and build a network that will launch their STEM careers, the news release said. The interns are coached on communication skills and will present their projects at the end of summer at a public symposium.

The Akamai Workforce Initiative is led by the Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators at the University of California Observatories in partnership with the UH Institute for Astronomy and UH Hilo.

This year the Akamai Internship Program is funded by Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Science Foundation (through the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, Gemini Observatory, Event Horizon Telescope, Slicer Combined with Array of Lenslets for Exoplanet Spectroscopy), University of California Observatories, Hawaii Community Foundation and Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.