Project Title:  TBD

Location:  Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, East Hartford, CT

Start/End Dates: TBD

Brief Description:  CTBD.

Desired Job Requirements:  TBD.

Number of Students:  1

Project Title:  TBD

Location:  Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, East Hartford, CT

Start/End Dates: TBD

Brief Description:  TBD

Desired Job Requirements:  TBD

Number of Students:  1

Project Title:  NextMinds (CIC) STEM Special Projects Expansion (K-12)

Location:  CIC Office Location 20 Church Street. 22nd Floor. Hartford, CT (with some remote or off-site work)

Start/End Dates: 5/31/2026 – 8/31/2026

Brief Description:  The Connecticut Invention Convention is seeking up to two interns to support a variety of program and expansion initiatives designed to expand program models to serve thousands of low-income and/or historically underrepresented students across the state. In particular, these interns will help the CIC in its deployment of several STEM summer learning initiatives, including its innovation-focused summer camps. In addition, interns will support the CIC in its ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility of its overall programs, and better ensure that historically underrepresented populations are provided critical access to innovation programming.

This internship will provide hands-on experiences supporting student education, the opportunity to meet and coordinate directly with business and tech executives from around the state, and an ability to help guide the direction of programs being supported.

The CIC is looking for one or two rising freshman, sophomore, or junior year students with a strong interest STEM education, and/or non-profit work. Applicants must be currently enrolled, full-time student enrolled in an CTSGC academic affiliate college/university. Must have a strong academic record. Must be a U.S. citizen. Applicants are expected to have reliable transportation as this internship requires both in-person and remote work.

Desired Job Requirements: Experience in Non-Profit Work, Education, Youth Programming or other relevant experience is preferred. Strong preference will be placed on applicants who are able to work in a hybrid environment and/or be present onsite at program locations within a one hour drive for at least half of their internship. All mileage incurred through this position is to be reimbursed above and beyond standard salary by the CIC.

In order to support new initiatives, the CIC is placing special preference on applicants who have experience in CAD modelling, 3D Printing, and Fabrication. Other desired content areas include App design, community outreach, and virtual instruction.

Full-time students enrolled in a CTSG academic affiliate college/university. Pursuing a degree in a STEM field, Social Services, or in Education, with an interest in working with and supporting K-12 learners.

Number of Students:  1-2

Project Title:  Programs Intern

Location:  CT Science Center, 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103

Start/End Dates: 6/1/2026 – 8/7/2026

Brief Description: Interns will work alongside Connecticut Science Center staff to create and deliver engaging public programming for families that inspires young people to pursue STEM careers. This experience will strengthen interns’ science communication, teamwork, and leadership skills while helping the Science Center build STEM awareness in the local community. Additionally, interns will be able to shadow Science Center operations, collaborate with external partners, interview STEM professionals, and assist in planning and executing events, gaining valuable exposure to real-world STEM career pathways and informal science education.

Currently enrolled, full-time student enrolled in a CTSGC academic affiliate college/university pursuing a degree in a STEM field or education, and interested in working with children. Must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Desired Job Requirements: Experience working with children. Occasional evening or weekend work.

Pursuing a degree in a STEM field or in Education, and an interest in working with children.

Number of Students:  2

Project Title: OPM Continuous Improvement Intern

Location:  Oxford Performance Materials, South Windsor, CT

Start/End Dates: 5/18/2026 – 8/21/2026

Brief Description: Using its proprietary OXPEKK® technology, OPM is leading the way in the additive manufacturing of orthopedic implants. OPM is looking for a Continuous Improvement intern to join their Engineering and R&D groups. The intern will work cross functionally between departments to assist with the development of validations and/or new manufacturing processes. The intern will assist with and further develop skills regarding hands-on testing, data analysis, protocol/report writing, and presentation skills.

Students enrolled in engineering or engineering technology fields would be the best fit for this position. Applicants must be detail-oriented, strong communicators, self-driven, and ready to be an integral part of a growing company.

Applicants must have reliable transportation for commuting to the office. Applicants must be able to work within the timeframe of May 2026 – August 2026.

Desired Job Requirements:  Students who have prior internship experience that are willing and capable to take on more complex projects are preferred for this role.

Number of Students:  1

Project Title: OPM Engineering & Compliance Intern

Location:  Oxford Performance Materials, South Windsor, CT

Start/End Dates: 5/18/2026 – 8/21/2026

Brief Description: Using its proprietary OXPEKK® technology, OPM is leading the way in the additive manufacturing of orthopedic implants. OPM is looking for an intern to join their Engineering & Compliance department for the summer of 2026. The intern will receive wide exposure to both Engineering and Compliance initiatives. The intern will assist with and further develop skills regarding hands on testing, data analysis, protocol/report writing, risk assessment, and post market surveillance.

Students enrolled in engineering or engineering technology fields would be the best fit for this position. Applicants must be detail-oriented, organized, strong communicators, and ready to be an integral part of a growing company.

Applicants must have reliable transportation for commuting to the office. Applicants must be able to work within the timeframe of May 2026 – August 2026.

Desired Job Requirements:  Students with prior experience in data analysis, technical writing, and an interest in exposure to a FDA compliant medical device company are preferred.

Number of Students:  1

Project Title: OPM Research & Development Intern

Location:  Oxford Performance Materials, South Windsor, CT

Start/End Dates: 5/18/2026 – 8/21/2026

Brief Description: Using its proprietary OXPEKK® technology, OPM is leading the way in the additive manufacturing of orthopedic implants. OPM is looking for an intern to join their Research & Development department for the summer of 2026. The intern will receive wide exposure to multiple R&D initiatives. The intern will assist the department and further develop skills through research into new potential applications of the process, hands on testing to further both product and process developments, 3D modeling and CAD design, protocol/report writing, and presentation of work to a wider audience within the company.

Students enrolled in engineering or engineering technology fields would be the best fit for this position. Applicants must be detail-oriented, organized, strong communicators, and ready to be an integral part of a growing company.

Applicants must have reliable transportation for commuting to the office. Applicants must be able to work within the timeframe of May 2026 – August 2026.

Desired Job Requirements: Students with any prior experience in 3D modeling software, technical writing, and a willingness to work in hands on atmospheres are preffered.

Number of Students:  1

Project Title:  Novel drug discovery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Location:  Synovel Laboratory LLC, 375 Morgan Lane, Unit 204, West Haven

Start/End Dates:  6/8/2026 – 8/14/2026

Brief Description:  Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), affects over 2.6 million individuals in the U.S., with incidence steadily increasing. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, has emerged as a major pathological mechanism contributing to UC progression. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxides disrupts intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) integrity, leading to mucosal barrier dysfunction and persistent inflammation. Ferroptosis inhibition has been shown to ameliorate colitis symptoms in preclinical models, emphasizing its potential as a transformative therapeutic target to break this cycle and improve long-term outcomes. By addressing both inflammation and epithelial survival, ferroptosis inhibitors have the potential to serve as an effective monotherapy or combination therapy with JAK inhibitors, offering a new paradigm in IBD treatment. In this project, we will be using De Novo design and molecular modeling to design and synthesize novel ferroptosis inhibitor with overall good activity and drug-like properties. Compounds with suitable properties will be tested in an in vitro cell assay and an in vivo mice animal model for IBD.

Some experience in organic synthesis experience is preferred.

Desired Job Requirements: Currently enrolled, full-time student enrolled in an CTSGC academic affiliate college/university. Must have a strong academic record. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Number of Students:  1

Project Title:  Discovery of Small-molecule LRRC8A, ion channel inhibitor for treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Location:  Synovel Laboratory LLC, 375 Morgan Lane, Unit 204, West Haven

Start/End Dates:  6/8/2026 – 8/14/2026

Brief Description:  Volume control is vital for a cell to respond to its environment. Without volume regulation, vertebrate cells are at the mercy of osmotic imbalance, a property utilized at extremes for biochemical cell lysis. However, by exporting or importing osmolytes in response to environmental or intracellular cues, cells can withstand osmotic stresses and actively regulate volume during cell growth, migration, and death.
Vertebrate cells respond to hypotonic environments by opening channels for chloride and other anions, permitting exchange of diverse osmolytes and requisite water across the membrane to alleviate osmotic imbalance. The underlying channels, termed volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) have variable selectivity and conductance between cells but are similarly activated by osmotic stimuli. While apparently ubiquitous in vertebrate cells, these channels lacked molecular identity until 2014, when leucine-rich repeat-containing family member 8A (LRRC8A, also named SWELL1) was identified as a required component of VRAC in cells.
In this project, we will discover a novel specific LRRC8A small molecule inhibitor for the treatment of multiple cardiovascular diseases including stroke and heart failure. The researcher will be responsible for the design and synthesis of new compounds focusing on potency and drug-like properties.

Some experience in organic synthesis experience is preferred.

Desired Job Requirements: Currently enrolled, full-time student enrolled in an CTSGC academic affiliate college/university. Must have a strong academic record. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Some experience in organic synthesis.

Number of Students:  1

Project Title:  Asteroid Occultation Project

Location:  Westport Astronomical Society, 182 Bayberry Lane, Westport, CT 06880

Start/End Dates:  6/1/2026 – 8/21/2026

Brief Description:Westport Astronomical Society, in conjunction with University of New Haven Physics, has an ongoing effort to observe asteroid occultations. This summer we expect to expand our asteroid observations into many sites for better and more frequent asteroid detections to aid in determining asteroid sizes, shapes, positions. We also expect to train secondary schoolers. The task is to help with the observations, the analysis, and the training of the younger generation of budding scientists.

Currently enrolled, full-time student enrolled in an CTSGC academic affiliate college/university. Must have a strong academic record. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Desired Job Requirements: Knowledge of python or other computer languages. Familiarity with portable telescopes a plus. Those seeking technical degrees preferred.

Number of Students:  1