Home » About APR.Intern
Australian Postgraduate Research Intern (APR.Intern) is Australia’s only national industry internship program for PhD, other Doctoral and Masters by Research students that spans all sectors and disciplines.
A not-for-profit, the program is the industry engagement arm of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI), dedicated to strengthening industry-university collaboration, and empowering students to thrive in a practical research environment.
The program works with all universities, nationally, to streamline pathways for postgraduate research students to be industry-literate and career ready; to expand university research collaborations; and to connect businesses with the country’s brightest emerging research talent.
WHY INDUSTRY INTERNSHIPS?
Our short-term, 3-5 month industry internships are an opportunity for:
- PhD, other Doctoral and Masters by Research students to experience a practical research environment, apply their research skills to an industry challenge and learn to navigate the workplace
- Universities and Academics to collaborate directly with industry and expand their research partnerships
- Businesses to engage a research specialist and fast-track R&D
WHY APR.INTERN?
Intermediaries like APR.Intern play a critical role in strengthening industry-university collaboration and accelerating STEM innovation. The program streamlines the process of matching industry challenges with suitable research students.
APR.Intern offers Australian businesses:
- A front door to Australian universities – through a single entry point, businesses can access the brightest emerging research talent at 35 universities
- A high-quality internship model with 10+ years of experience
- Rapid R&D results through short-term, tightly-focussed research projects
EQUAL PARTICIPATION IN STEM
At APR.Intern, we want to create equal opportunities for everyone to enter STEM careers. Our internships are available to both men and women, domestic and international students. Traditionally, there has been lower participation of women in STEM careers and APR.Intern has a special focus on helping change that.
APR.Intern assists women to overcome some of the barriers they face to enter STEM industries.
Some of the challenges include:
- Flexibility, support and childcare
- Confidence/self-perception
- Gender bias (STEM perceived as male-dominated field)
- Lack of support and role models
How we can overcome them:
- Lead national conversation to strengthen participation
- Place STEM women at the frontline of industry through STEM PhD internships
- Offer tailored project arrangements/flexible conditions
- Mentoring, guidance and support through academic mentor and APR.Intern
INDUSTRY COSTS
The cost of engaging a PhD student intern starts at $20,000 for a 3-month internship, covering a $3,000 monthly student stipend, a one-off academic mentor fee and a one-off APR.Intern project management fee.
Subsidies are also available to businesses in Defence, Manufacturing and MedTech sectors through our program partnerships. These lower the cost of an internship by up to 50%.
FAQ
What is AMSI?
The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) is an independent Australian collaborative enterprise of mathematical sciences. It provides universities with infrastructure, so that initiatives can be taken to the national and international stage. It works in three areas: research and higher education, school education, and engagement with the industrial and commercial world.
AMSI’s mission is to champion the mathematical sciences for Australia’s advancement. You can read AMSI’s mission statement here.
A short history of APR.Intern
AMSI’s internship program was established in 2007 as part of a $2 million Collaborative and Structural Reform (CASR) grant through the State Government of Victoria. At this time, the program focused solely on postgraduate students within the mathematical sciences discipline.
In 2010, the internship program expanded through a three-year, $1.7 million partnership with Enterprise Connect, which was an initiative of the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. This partnership allowed for the placement of PhD interns within small-to-medium enterprises over three years and opened up the program to cover all disciplines.
APR.Intern finalised negotiations in 2015 on a three-year strategic partnership between eight AMSI member universities to expand the program in Victoria and New South Wales, increasing resources to develop a wider range of industry connections for the benefit of their postgraduate students.
From 2017, with the support of the Australian Government, the APR.Intern program will deliver PhD student internships into industry over 4 years through the ‘Supporting more women in STEM careers: Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) – National Research Internships Program’. More information can be found here.
Why place students outside mathematics and statistics?
While the program’s roots are in mathematical sciences, APR.Intern is focused on placing PhD students from STEM disciplines into industry internships with the majority being female STEM students.
Maths and stats skills are required by all types of professionals. As mathematical sciences underpin all science, technology and engineering disciplines, AMSI’s work in APR.Intern helps create an essential pipeline to support industry’s demand for STEM skills. These skills are vital to innovate and remain competitive as part of the global economy.
HOW IT WORKS
We’re here to help you with a simple framework to get your project going.
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APR.Intern
Our business development advisors are here to guide you through every step, from start to finish
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Define a Project
Outline your project brief/needs
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WE’LL FIND YOUR BEST MATCH
We source student and mentor teams from universities across Australia
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SELECT YOUR PHD STUDENT
Interview and select the right candidate for your business
WE GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE FROM THE START
Once you’ve selected an intern and their academic mentor, you’ll define expectations and outcomes.
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DEVELOP A DETAILED PROJECT PLAN
You’ll work with the intern and academic mentor to refine the project plan
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PROJECT PLAN FINALISED
Internship objectives, milestone and details are mapped out
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STANDARD AGREEMENT
Standard agreements help turnaround time
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Start Project
Once the agreement and project plan are signed off, it is full steam ahead!
HOW IS THE PROJECT MANAGED?
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GUIDED BY PROJECT PLAN
The agreed project plan keeps the internship on track
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REGULAR CHECK-INS
APR.Intern regularly checks in with all parties to ensure everything is progressing smoothly and to help with any issues
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MID-TERM PRESENTATION
Opportunity to review approach and progress, and plan for completion and reflection
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FINAL PRESENTATION AND REPORT
Intern presents their results and the project’s impact in a face-to-face presentation and written report
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Or get in touch directly with one of our Business Development Managers today:
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Glen Sheldon National Program Manager and Business Development (QLD, SA & NT)0431 832 788
g.sheldon@aprintern.org.au -
