Internships and mentoring

Research internships

All UTS HDR students have the opportunity to include a research internship or professional placement in their research study. 

These placements can be undertaken with a wide range of partner organisations, including industry, business, government, startup, Indigenous community organisations, non-for-profits, NGOs, cultural or other community-sector partners. This flexibility reflects the diversity of the ways that research and research skills are used to solve real-world problems and the diversity of UTS’s partnerships.

Why do a research internship?

Watch UTS PhDs explain how they used research internships to build their careers

A research internship strengthens student research skills, builds networks for research collaborations, supports the host organisation to solve problems quickly, and can be flexibly adapted to fit in with your research journey. 

For students, a research internship is an opportunity to:

  • shape your research thinking in a real-world context and develop future research questions
  • enhance your professional networks 
  • diversify your CV with experiences that cross academic and industry spheres
  • strengthen your research capabilities in areas like impact, engagement, collaboration, and project management
  • contribute to tangible outcomes that solve real-world problems 

Want to know more?

Ready to take the next step? 

Talk to your supervisor, faculty, or the GRS about how you can build an internship or professional placement into your research journey. The GRS can help support students and host organisations in developing an IP agreement, registering the internship, and administering funds. 

​Industry mentoring 

IMNIS Engage

UTS participates in the Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) program. IMNIS is an initiative of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).​

IMNIS Engage connects motivated PhD students and early career researchers with outstanding industry leaders in a one-year mentoring and professional development program that:

  • provides pragmatic career advice
  • supports professional skill development
  • facilitates broad, cross-sector professional networking
  • enhances the capacity to engage with industry through commercialisation
  • develops career opportunities outside of academia

Current PhD students based in any STEM discipline and postdoctoral fellows who received their PhD within the past 3 years are eligible to participate in IMNIS Engage. Applications to the program are generally open in April-May each year. Places are limited, so selection is competitive.

Professional Mentoring Platform

UTS HDRs also have access to UTS's Professional Mentoring Platform. This platform provides a space for UTS students, alumni and industry professionals to come together, build a community, and find a mentor or mentoring opportunity.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.