FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ELIGIBILITY
What are the eligibility requirements for AEOP Internships?
Additional age requirements or pre-requisites may apply by site.
AEOP High School Internships are open to participants who are currently enrolled in high school or are within 60 months of having received their high school degree and have not enrolled in an undergraduate program.
AEOP Undergraduate Internships are open to participants who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (associate’s or bachelor’s) or have completed their undergraduate degree within the last 60 months and have not enrolled in a post-baccalaureate or graduate program.
What are the eligibility requirements for Fellowships?
a graduate degree. Post-doctoral fellowships must be initiated within 60 months of the conference of a participant’s doctoral degree and may not exceed 60 months in duration. Additional eligibility requirements may be established at the discretion of the host lab.
Can an 8th grader apply to a high school internship?
Which program should I apply for if I am currently enrolled in high school but take college courses?
Until you graduate from high school and formally enroll in a degree conferring undergraduate program, you are eligible for the high school internship program.
Can I participate in an AEOP Fellowship after having completed a post-doc through a different organization?
Maybe. Post-docs may start an AEOP fellowship up to 60 months after receiving their doctoral degree. The AEOP fellowship can then last as long as 60 months.
Admissions
What is the acceptance rate overall?
Who is responsible for the selection process?
When will I hear if I was selected for the program?
Pay attention to the close dates of the program application. As soon as sites make a decision, you will be notified if you were selected or not. If it’s a site with rolling admissions, you will only be notified if you’re selected.
What should I do if I receive multiple offers?
If a lab that I'm not interested in selects me, can I be reassigned to a different lab location?
Site/Lab Questions
Can I contact the site coordinator, lab, or mentor?
How many spots are there at each lab?
The number of available internships and fellowships at each lab varies based on funding and projects.
Are there any virtual options for this program?
Yes, they will be posted in the site descriptions.
What are the internship/fellowship timelines (start/end dates, day-to-day routines)?
Each lab and project is different! Most summer opportunities will expect a full-time schedule (40 hours a week, ~9-5) for 6-10 weeks in May-August.
Are housing, meals, or transportation provided?
Do I need to live in the vicinity/state of the site that I am applying to?
Yes, all sites are considered commuter programs, and you need to live within commuting distance. Housing, transportation, and meals are not provided. However, you do not need to be a legal resident of the state that the site is located (e.g., you can be visiting for the summer). You must be able to get to and from the site daily.
I want to take time off for a vacation during my time in the program. Is this allowed?
AEOP participants are expected to adhere to the attendance and absence policies provided by their lab coordinator and mentor; failure to adhere to a reasonable participation schedule may result in termination. In the case of termination, the intern’s stipend will be prorated to reflect the time the intern participated in the program.
Miscellaneous
Outside of the actual internship/fellowship, are there any other activities that the interns/fellows must participate in?
Can I get credit from my university for the internship?
Yes, at the discretion of your university, AEOP internships may be used to meet internship or co-op requirements.
Do I receive support if I'm struggling in the program?
Yes, interns and fellows will receive support and resources from their lab mentors and the AEOP administrative team.
What are the stipend levels?
Laboratories establish stipend rates based on a centralized stipend policy. There may be variations based on location (cost of living), the intern’s experience and education level, and the field of research.
Application Process
How do I apply?
Click here!
I'm a parent/guardian—can I fill out an application on behalf of my student?
No, applications should only be filled out by applicants. Parents/Guardians should only fill out the consent form.
When does the application open and close?
The application is based off the site. We encourage you to check back often and pay attention to the closing dates of each opportunity.
How many sites can I apply to?
You may apply to as many sites as you are interested in as long as you can attend them and fulfill all the requirements. However, remember this is a commuter program; transportation and housing are NOT provided, so you need to live in the site area.
What if I've already submitted my application but then find a new AEOP opportunity I'd like to apply for?
You can email AEOP the name of the site and they can add it to your application.
What materials will I need for my application?
You will need:
- your transcript
- resume
- a short personal statement
- a list of STEM classes you’ve taken in college or high school.
If you are under the age of 18, you will need your parent/guardian’s name and email address so that they can sign a consent form. Undergraduate applicants will need to provide the name and email address of one recommender. No letters of recommendation are required or will be accepted for high school students.
How many letters of recommendation should I submit? When are recommendation letters due?
For an undergraduate internship, you are required to submit one letter of recommendation. No letters of recommendation are required or will be accepted for high school students. Undergraduate internship applications are not considered complete and will not be reviewed until the letter of recommendation is submitted. You will enter the name and email address of your recommender(s) in the application. Within 2 business days of your submission of the application, your recommender(s) will receive an email requesting their recommendation and providing directions for submission. We recommend that you contact your recommender(s) to make them aware of the process.
Recommendations are due by the application close date.
Do I need to submit an official transcript? Can I upload my transcript and/or resume right to the application?
An unofficial transcript and report card will be accepted as long as it clearly states the student’s name, college/high school and level of education. When filling out the application, you can upload your documents right into the application (pdf or jpg form).
What is the parent/guardian consent form?
It is a form required for individuals under the age of 18. It gives applicants permission to participate in our program and is digitally signed by your parent/guardian. When you submit the application, you will be asked to provide your parent/guardian’s name and email address. Your parent/guardian will receive an email that requires them to log into the application system and provide their signature.
Note: Your parent/guardian should create their own account to access the application.
What counts as "disability?" Will I need to provide documentation?
You may choose to indicate your disability status on the application but are not required to do so. Disabilities include physical and mental conditions. You will not be required to provide documentation. If selected for an internship or fellowship, please contact the AEOP Help Line (aeopinternships@rit.edu) to request reasonable accommodations.
What should I put for school if I'm homeschooled?
Type “home school” for the question and leave the NCES code question blank.
Will I need to complete an interview as part of the application process?
Interviews are at the discretion of the lab; individual labs will contact you if they require an interview.
Do I have to apply each year? Or am I automatically accepted each year I want to participate?
Applicants are required to apply each year to the sites they are interested in.
How can I strengthen my application?
Ensure that all parts of the application are filled out correctly and proofread your answers. Please keep in mind that this is a highly competitive program that gets many qualified applicants.
Will I be timed out of the application and have to start over?
Your application is saved, and you can access it by logging back in. However, we recommend writing your personal statement in a different document, then copy and pasting it into the application.
Can I edit my application after I have submitted it?
No, please ensure your application is complete before submitting.
AEOP Connections
What is the connection between AEOP and RIT? Will I be admitted to RIT if accepted into the program?
AEOP internships and fellowships are administered by RIT, but you will not be admitted into RIT if accepted into the program. Completing this program has no connection to any university admissions.
What is the connection between AEOP and the Army? Will I be admitted to the Army if accepted into the program?
AEOP internships and fellowships are hosted by U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Centers. You will not be admitted into the Army if accepted into the program.
Do military connections or connections to the Army Labs improve my chances of being admitted?
No, decisions about admissions are made based on the applicant, not their connections.
Don’t see your question? Call or email our help line!
Phone: (585) 475-4529
Email: aeopinternships@rit.edu
We encourage the applicant to call themselves.
AEOP Internships and Fellowships
AEOP Internships and Fellowships help you gain the skills and experience you need today to prepare for the STEM careers of tomorrow. As an intern or fellow, you will conduct cutting-edge research in a state-of-the-art facility alongside a professional STEM mentor.