Internship Program

Overview

The EBI Summer Internship partners with a range of entrepreneurial ventures, from Venture Capital firms to climate tech companies, providing immersive summer experiences for UC Berkeley and UIUC students.

How it works

The EBI Summer Internship partners with a variety of entrepreneurial organizations, ranging from venture capital firms to climate tech companies, to provide immersive summer experiences for students from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This paid internship, lasting 8 to 10 weeks, equips students with essential skills and hands-on experience to help them achieve their future career aspirations.

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Benefits for Students

Acquire valuable, real-world research experience and training on a long-term project.
Work full-time and earn a competitive salary.
Explore career options and/or define the direction for graduate studies.
Network with a variety of industries, and fellow student interns.
Work one-on-one with mentors or work as part of a team.
Develop new technical, communication, time management, and leadership skills.

Eligibility

Registered as a current undergraduate and masters students from UIUC and UC Berkeley.
Suggested minimal GPA of 3.2.
Full-time enrolled student or graduating student.
Unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.
Committed to full-time summer employment.
Transfer students: Completion of at least one semester of coursework at UC Berkeley or UIUC.
International students: Not currently accepted

Application Opens

Febuary 3, 2026

Application Deadline

March 17, 2026

Company Interview

April, 2026

Decision

Early May

Internship Start Date

Last Week of May – First Week of June

Internship Program

How to apply

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01 Statement of Purpose

A one page statement answering the following: Why are you interested in applying to the EBI Summer Internship Program? What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How will the EBI summer Internship Program help with your goals? Include any additional information that might aid the selection committee in evaluating your candidacy for this opportunity.

02 Resume

A one page resume with your most recent and relevant experiences, professional, scholastic or volunteering.

03 Letter of Recommendation

Ensure that your recommenders submit the two required letters of recommendation by the specified due date. The letters must be sent by your recommender to ebiadmin@berkeley.edu. Email subject should be: “EBI Summer Internship Rec Letter- [Applicant Full Name]”. To improve your chances of acceptance, this letter should be written by someone who is familiar with your interests, abilities, and/or career goals.

Program details

01 Requirements

Once accepted into the program, students are required to attend all meetings, orientations, activities, and fulfill the following internship expectations.

Once a student accepts an internship offer, whether verbally or in writing, acceptance is considered binding for the duration of the entire work period.

Interns must complete all program and University of California administrative procedures.

Interns are required to turn in UC Berkeley, company employer, and internship program forms by stated deadlines.

Interns may be required to sign a confidentiality compliance statement protecting a company’s proprietary information and must observe company rules and regulations.

Interns may be required to participate in a background check, drug test, and may be asked to supply a copy of their most recent immunization record, current residence status, and health insurance card.

Interns will complete all EBI assignments by deadlines.

Interns will participate in program evaluation procedures and events.

Interns are required to report any issues or difficulties with the internship to the program coordinator (ebiadmin@berkeley.edu), the company supervisor, or the company human resources representative.

02 Salary Benefits

Each intern will receive compensation directly from the employer or an authorized third-party agency. Salaries are set by the respective company, and interns must present two forms of identification when completing mandatory payroll paperwork. Please note that interns do not qualify for company-provided insurance benefits or overtime pay. Students are responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation, and meals expenses.

03 Supervision & Evaluation

The company supervisor assumes primary responsibility for recruiting, training, and assessing interns. They develop internship training agendas and may designate mentors to guide and instruct interns. Additionally, supervisors delineate precise roles and project assignments, which may involve research projects and presentation objectives. Furthermore, supervisors offer insights into company operations, facilitate professional networking prospects, and promote informational interviews.
The EBI program manager oversees the initial application and screening procedures, serves as a bridge between applicants and company representatives, delegates three minor tasks to interns throughout the summer, and coordinates pre- and post-internship events to exchange information and gather input.

FAQs

For any other questions that we may not have answered, please email us and we’ll get back to you shortly.

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Undergraduate and graduate students from UC Berkeley and UIUC can all apply.

No.

EBI partners with different biotech companies in the Bay Area and Illinois each summer, so while your internship placement can vary, the particular job duties will depend entirely on the needs of the company. You will work on a real project with a team that will support your development.

Currently we are not accepting foreign students, but we are actively working on that.

The choice is entirely up to you. The EBI selection committee will receive application packets, conduct a thorough review/interview process, and forward the top application packets to companies. The company will then conduct interviews and make the final hiring decision.

Companies will reach out usually at the end of April through early May.

Interns are required to report any internship issues or difficulties to the EBI program coordinator, company supervisor, or human resources representative. The company supervisor will discuss an unsatisfactory situation with the intern and notify the EBI program coordinator. Grounds for immediate dismissal from the program include failure to fulfill responsibilities due to tardiness, absence, or other forms of undependability or incompetence.

Please email ebiadmin@berkeley.edu for any questions not answered on this page.

The Energy & Biosciences Institute