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MAOP Undergraduate Summer Research Internship (SRI) Program

Info for 2026 SRI Interns

Congratulations on your acceptance to one of Virginia Tech’s top summer research internships! During your 10-week internship this summer, you’ll dive into your selected research project while also building professional and leadership skills through our weekly workshops and activities.

Please note that interns are responsible for covering their own travel expenses. We strongly recommend arriving at one of the following locations, as these are the only places where MAOP staff can provide pickup:

Interns who plan to stay on campus will be housed in the Creativity and Innovation District Residence Hall. Learn more about the hall, including room layouts and amenities.

Before you arrive, be sure to click on “Room Details” to see what is provided and what you’ll need to bring with you, such as bed sheets, pillows, and towels. Reviewing this information ahead of time will help ensure a smooth and comfortable move in experience.

Interns should plan to arrive on campus by 3:00 p.m. on May 26, 2026. Parking will be available in the Architecture Annex Lot, where MAOP staff will be present to assist with check-in and provide you with a temporary parking pass and further instructions.

Additional details regarding arrival and move in procedures will be shared closer to the program start date.

The MAOP Summer Research Internship Program begins with a required orientation on May 27 from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., designed to introduce interns to program expectations, staff, and resources. At 2:00 p.m., interns will depart for a two-day retreat at Smith Mountain Lake, which focuses on community building and leadership development.

Interns will begin work in their assigned laboratories on June 1. Students should be prepared to engage actively in their research projects, ask questions, meet lab members, and begin working closely with graduate student mentors and faculty supervisors from the first day.

Throughout the summer, MAOP staff will support interns through biweekly one-on-one check-in meetings, providing guidance and opportunities to reflect on academic, professional, and personal goals.

During week nine, interns will participate in “Summer Sparks,” a fast talks presentation designed to help students practice communicating their research clearly and concisely.

In week ten, interns will take part in a poster practice session, allowing them to receive feedback from mentors and MAOP faculty before presenting at the Virginia Tech Summer Undergraduate Research Conference on July 30, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. All interns are required to present their posters. 

The program concludes with a MAOP reception and certificate ceremony, recognizing each intern’s accomplishments and providing an opportunity to celebrate and say farewell to fellow cohort members.

About the Program

MAOP provides prospective interns with a varied selection of mentoring faculty and description of their research so the student can choose the area of research best suited for their specific interests.

Our 10-week research program provides motivated undergraduate students across the nation the opportunity to work with Virginia Tech faculty dedicated to mentoring high achieving students.

The primary goal of this program is to provide students with experiences that cultivate their career goals. We incorporate enriching opportunities such as weekly seminars focused on research and professional development, occasional social events, and a final symposium where participants present their research in poster form.

Internship Benefits 

  • $3,000 stipend
  • On-campus housing 
  • Meal plan
  • Graduate/professional school preparation 
  • Social activities and events

Eligibility

  • Undergraduate students who have completed 30 credit hours from any 2- or 4-year institution  
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • U.S. citizen or permanent U.S resident

Program Highlights

Smith Mountain Lake Retreat

At the start of the 10-week program, SRI Interns and MAOP staff kick off the experience with a weekend retreat at Smith Mountain Lake in Roanoke, VA. The retreat focuses on building community through team-building activities, shared meals, and campfire fun. 

Summer Sparks Series

Summer Spark Series challenges early career researchers to capture their audience in 90-second spark talks. 

Participants prepared for their talk via the Spark Lab. Communication skills are unlocked in this mini seminar where students spend an afternoon learning about conveying information on specific research topics in 90 seconds.

Summer Research Symposium

The Summer Research Symposium allows SRI Interns to present their summer research projects to other students, VT faculty/staff, and community members.