Intern, Research Practicum

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation•Arlington, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

VT-ARC seeks a motivated high school student enrolled in the TJHSST Research Practicum program to join its STEAD division as a research intern. The intern will pursue an independent research project under the guidance of a VT-ARC mentor while supporting the division’s ongoing data analysis work. The position provides exposure to applied research in a defense and national security setting, including how technical programs are planned, analyzed, and communicated to government sponsors. The internship runs from September 2026 through May 2027, in alignment with the TJHSST Research Practicum academic calendar. The schedule is 16 hours per week, coordinated with the student’s school schedule. The supervisor and mentor is Sithira Ratnayaka, PhD, Lead Technical Project Manager. The internship is unpaid; academic credit is provided through Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with the option for remote work in accordance with the Hybrid Work & Telecommuting Policy and mission requirements. VT-ARC is a nonprofit research and development organization affiliated with Virginia Tech. Its mission is to provide analytic and technology solutions across multiple domains by leveraging Virginia Tech’s multidisciplinary research and innovation ecosystem. Its stated organizational values are Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service.

Requirements

Current student at TJHSST enrolled in the Research Practicum program.
Strong written communication skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently, manage time across school and internship commitments, and ask questions when needed.

Nice To Haves

No additional preferred qualifications are listed; the stated desired qualifications repeat the required qualifications.

Responsibilities

Design and carry out an independent research project under mentor supervision, including defining research questions, reviewing relevant literature, and selecting appropriate methods.
Maintain a research log documenting progress, methods, and results.
Produce TJHSST practicum deliverables, such as a final paper, poster, and presentation.
Support general division-level activities.
Collect, clean, and organize datasets from publicly available sources, including publication databases, funding records, and technical reports.
Conduct descriptive and exploratory analyses and summarize findings for project teams.
Create charts, tables, and other visualizations for internal briefings and reports.
Help with literature searches and summaries supporting division research and technology forecasting efforts.
Participate in team meetings and give short updates on assigned tasks.