Durham, NC: Internship Opportunities for Students
Durham, North Carolina, offers a wide array of internship opportunities for students of all ages, from high school to university level. These internships provide invaluable hands-on experience, career exploration, and skill development, connecting students with professionals and mentors in various fields. This article explores some of the best internship programs available in Durham, highlighting the benefits and opportunities they offer.
Advantages of Internships
Participating in an internship while still in high school or college offers numerous advantages. It allows students to:
- Build a Resume: Internships provide tangible experiences that enhance a resume, making students more competitive in the job market.
- Demonstrate Motivation: Completing an internship shows colleges and future employers that a student is proactive and driven.
- Acquire Employable Skills: Internships equip students with practical skills that are highly valued by employers.
- Explore Career Paths: Internships offer a glimpse into different professions, helping students determine their career interests.
- Gain Practical Experience: Internships provide real-world experience that complements classroom learning.
- Connect with Mentors: Internships allow students to network with professionals who can offer guidance and support.
Internships for High School Students in Durham, NC
Durham offers a diverse range of internships tailored for high school students, spanning various fields and interests. Here are some notable programs:
NCDOT: High School Internship Program
- Location: Raleigh/Triangle area offices, including Durham.
- Eligibility: NC high school students (16+, minimum GPA 2.3).
- Description: This program allows students to work with NCDOT engineers and planners on transportation projects, applying math and science skills to real-world scenarios. Interns attend meetings, complete project assignments, and receive mentorship from state DOT professionals, gaining valuable engineering experience and insights into public service careers.
Ladder Internships
Read also: Universal Studios Hollywood: Entertainment Guide
- Location: Virtual.
- Eligibility: High school students.
- Description: Ladder Internships pairs students with high-growth startups in fields like healthcare, tech, and business. Interns work on real projects with guidance from a company mentor and a Ladder Coach, gaining experience and presenting their results to the team.
VetCAMP
- Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors, 15+.
- Description: VetCAMP is a five-day summer camp focused on veterinary science. Participants tour the NC State vet school, learn small-animal clinic basics, and work hands-on with animals. Lab sessions include suturing and dissection techniques, developing practical veterinary and scientific skills.
City of Durham: YouthWorks Summer Internship
- Location: Durham, NC (various city/partner sites); Virtual options available.
- Eligibility: Durham City/County resident, ages 14-24 by June 30.
- Description: YouthWorks is a city-sponsored summer job internship program that places participants with local businesses and non-profits. Placements vary widely, including IT, construction, arts, and office support. Interns complete online learning modules and gain in-person work experience.
DCRI STAR (Summer Training in Academic Research) Program
- Eligibility: Rising high school juniors/seniors, with a preference for rising seniors.
- Description: This research internship allows students to work on medical or statistical research projects alongside Duke faculty and graduate mentors. Participants learn research methodology and scientific writing, culminating in a final paper or poster on their project.
ISHTaR Program
- Location: UNC Medical Campus, NC (hybrid).
- Eligibility: North Carolina 10th to 12th graders, ages 16+; GPA of 2.75 or more is recommended.
- Description: The ISHTaR program introduces high schoolers to medical and public health research at UNC. Interns conduct supervised research on emergency medicine topics, combining in-lab work and online training.
UNC Nutrition Research Institute: Virtual Internship
Read also: SU and the City
- Location: Virtual.
- Eligibility: Rising high school freshmen to rising college freshmen.
- Description: In this four-week internship, students work in small teams on nutrition research projects, such as analyzing dietary data or designing a health study. The internship includes online lectures and collaborative lab-style projects.
Teen Arts Council at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA)
- Location: NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC.
- Eligibility: North Carolina students aged 13-18.
- Description: The NCMA Teen Arts Council offers students the opportunity to serve as teen ambassadors, helping shape the museum’s programs. Participants design and run creative teen events in collaboration with museum staff.
Durham Sports Commission: HS Internship
- Location: Durham Sports Commission office, Durham, NC.
- Eligibility: High school seniors from Durham.
- Description: This internship involves helping plan and run major sporting events for the city, working alongside staff on marketing, logistics, or community outreach.
Durham County LEEP (Launching Emerging Employees Program)
- Location: Durham County Government offices, Durham, NC.
- Eligibility: Ages 15-19; Durham County resident, DPS student, or child of a county employee.
- Description: LEEP is a summer internship with the Durham County government, where students work in entry-level positions across various county departments and participate in career development workshops.
Red Hat: High School Internship Program
- Location: Red Hat headquarters, Cary, NC.
- Eligibility: Rising high school juniors/seniors, 16+, minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Description: This two-week tech internship at a software company involves working on projects in areas like software development, IT infrastructure, or tech marketing, under the guidance of Red Hat engineers.
Kids Voting Durham: Civic Leadership Program
Read also: Your Path to a Healthcare Career
- Location: Durham, NC (various civic venues, hybrid options available).
- Eligibility: Durham-area youth, 14-24.
- Description: This program offers intern-like roles in election education and community engagement, where students may help design voter education campaigns or run mock elections in schools.
Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP)
- Location: Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Durham, NC.
- Eligibility: North Carolina rising high school juniors/seniors, 16+; Durham Public School students prioritised.
- Description: DukeREP is a seven-week summer engineering research internship where students work with Duke Engineering professors on projects in fields like robotics, renewable energy, or biomedical devices.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Junior Interpreters Program
- Location: Museum of Natural Sciences, Downtown Raleigh, NC.
- Eligibility: Rising high school juniors/seniors (grades 9-12).
- Description: As a Junior Interpreter, students serve as museum ambassadors by sharing science with visitors and honing their communication skills.
Veritas AI Internship Program
- Location: Virtual.
- Eligibility: High school students with experience in AI/ML.
- Description: Veritas AI offers an intensive 8-week virtual AI internship where students work remotely on machine learning projects with startup companies under expert guidance.
Internships with the City of Durham
The City of Durham itself offers several internship opportunities, particularly within its Technology Solutions Department and the City Attorney's Office.
Technology Solutions Department Internships
The City of Durham’s Technology Solutions Department, under the leadership of CIO and Director Kerry Goode, provides six-month paid internship opportunities to students at local colleges and universities. These internships offer hands-on experience in various IT disciplines, including computer hardware, software engineering, cyber security, and data analytic services. North Carolina Central University (NCCU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Durham, is a key partner in this program.
The partnership with NCCU extends beyond internships. Kerry Goode is a member of the NCCU IT Advisory Council and has been involved in racial equity-focused initiatives at the university. These initiatives include the designation of NCCU as the only University of North Carolina system school to offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology with concentrations in cyber security and data analytics. The Advisory Council also helped secure a new $300,000 state-of-the-art cyber security lab on NCCU’s campus.
These efforts provide NCCU students with access to training, equipment, and resources that create competitive job opportunities in a field that has historically marginalized people of color. Kerry Goode stated that one of the main goals in Technology Solutions is to foster a more connected, engaged, and diverse community.
City Attorney’s Office Summer Intern Program
The Durham City Attorney’s Office (CAO) offers a 10-week, paid Summer Intern Program for law students who have completed their first year at an American Bar Association accredited law school. The program introduces students to the practical experience of working in local government, exposing them to various areas of law and practice, such as planning, code enforcement, community development, real estate, transportation, construction, and personnel.
Interns have the opportunity to research and write on current legal issues, attend council meetings, depositions, and proceedings, and present legal findings to supervising attorneys and city administration. The Program Coordinators serve as mentors and facilitators for each Intern. Interns are paid \$25/hour for up to 30 hours per week.
Past interns have praised the program for its supportive environment and the valuable insights gained into municipal law and local government operations.
Durham County Internships
Durham County also offers internship opportunities, including the Durham County Management Intern and Fellow programs. These positions involve assisting with executive management, budget tasks, strategic research, and special projects.
Durham County also runs the LEEP (Launching Emerging Employees Program), which provides summer internships with county government.
tags: #city #of #durham #nc #internships #for
