Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

energyStartup Summer Internships

Main content start
summer 2017 interns and fellows

2025 Summer Positions Open!   

Opportunity

The TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy has two internship programs. The objectives of the summer internships are for students to gain work experience, develop applied engineering knowledge, learn entrepreneurship in a startup environment, and build upon their academic studies.  Between the two programs each student can only apply to three positions through the TomKat Center.  If applications are received for more than three positions they will be randomly deleted. 

1) TomKat Center-supported Internships: The TomKat Center offers a limited number of paid summer internships to Stanford undergraduate students at exciting Stanford-affiliated sustainable energy startup companies.

2) Industry-supported Energy Internships: The TomKat Center works with several exciting sustainable energy startup companies to help recruit talented Stanford undergraduate and masters students for paid summer internship positions.

Application

Participating companies will conduct interviews and assist in making final selections. Successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance mid-March. A separate application must be submitted for each position, and each student can only apply to three positions. If applications are received for more than three positions, they will be randomly deleted. 

With your application you will be asked to submit:

  • A one-page cover letter detailing your qualifications, experience, and why you are suited for the specific position. (name document in this format: LastnameCompanyCover, ex. SmithAcmeCover)
  • A resume. (name document in this format: LastnameCompanyResume, ex. SmithAcmeResume)

If you have any questions please contact Elizabeth Irino, eirino@stanford.edu.

Commitment

In addition to fulfilling the internship position's agreed-upon terms, all interns will need to perform these further program requirements:

  • Attend a mandatory preparation session and complete the course through Canvas.
  • Attend a mandatory mid-internship meeting at Stanford or through web conferencing.
  • Submit a final report to the TomKat Center detailing their summer experience.
  • Engage in cohort activities when available.

Payment

The TomKat Center-supported Interns will receive a $8,000 stipend for an 8 week fulltime internship. (plus a supplement based on financial need for students who qualify). Students must be undergraduates (or paying undergraduate tuition in the Spring quarter immediately preceding the summer internship, if currently enrolled in a co-term program). The intern must have direct deposit activated in Axess by the first week of June so that the payment can be deposited directly into the account on file.

Industry-supported Energy Interns will receive payment directly from their host company.

The intern will be responsible for any of the tax implications of this award. While the TomKat Center is assisting with recruitment and funding for some of the internships, the external companies will serve as direct employers for all positions.

Eligibility and Requirements: 

Undergraduate students from all years and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Coterm students are eligible if they are paying undergraduate tuition in Spring quarter preceding the summer internship quarter. Eligibility for this program follows VPUE student research eligibility guidelines. Please review these requirements in detail before applying. In particular, please note:

  • Student athletes should confirm the impact of any awarded stipend on their athletic eligibility by contacting the Compliance Services Office prior to committing to a research project.
  • Stipends, prizes, or awards paid to undergraduate students who are receiving other forms of financial aid for any purpose are a form of financial assistance and may require adjustment to a student's scholarship eligibility, and/or adjustment to their overall cost of attendance. The Financial Aid Office has the responsibility to determine whether adjustments are necessary and it's the individual responsibility of the student to contact the Financial Aid Office about the impact of their grant to their overall cost of attendance. This policy applies during quarters when students are registered for classes and therefore should not affect students participating in our summer research program.

Students participating in TomKat's or any Stanford funded full-time programs are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, research position, job, or volunteer opportunity (whether funded by Stanford or otherwise).

Travel, Housing, and Living Expenses

The intern is responsible for arranging and paying for their own housing and transportation during the internship. Access to a car may be required during the internship. Interns are responsible for all of their other internship-related expenses.

2025 Summer Positions Open!