Terranexum

Company/Organization Description:

TerraNexum develops systems that accelerate and optimize data-driven decisions needed for greater sustainability and resilience. We were featured recently on Best Startups as a top Colorado company in the renewable energy space. Our main product, Quantum Modules (QMs), enables companies that process large quantities of satellite or aerial imagery to see great speed increases at much less cost. 

Company/Organization Type:

Data Science

Internship Description:

Every internship should be first and foremost a learning opportunity for the intern. So the first responsibility is to ask questions, to ensure a good understanding of not only the work being done, but why it is being done. The second responsibility is to suggest alternatives with supporting information if a chance for improvement is spotted on a task. Just because a task has been done the same way 20 times does not mean it is the fastest and best way to do it. That leads into the last responsibility, to always let us know where we can accelerate and optimize our efforts. That is, after all, what we're trying to deliver for our customers. 

The following are the main duties our interns will have:

1) Research. Which really means that once you've searched, you might need to search again. And again. We might need everything you can find on a particular industry in a particular area and how our technology could provide a faster path to sustainability and resilience there. Within that area, we might like to know where there are likely to be large data needs, and who will eventually see benefits if we were to serve those needs. Many needs can't be served through data alone; if a community needs solar power for their water wells, we still want to know about that because it's an opportunity we might be able to help with through our partners. The lesson we aim to teach through this duty is how to drill down deep when researching. More often than not, ten citations and a one-sentence description each is not enough to really explore a problem and make good recommendations from the information found. And if there really are only ten citations regarding the whole research topic, we'd like to know that as well, since that area is really being underserved and there could be growth opportunities for us there.

2) Data Collection, Analysis, and Visualization. Every time #1 is done, and there will likely be at least one new topic each week, you'll have a dataset from your research but it's not in a useful state yet. The data will need condensing down into representative numbers, bullet points, and a visualization of some kind to make your findings easier to understand. If you find geographic data, you might need to create a map to explore it further, and we can provide the software and guidance to help you with that. If you find timestamped image and text data (pictures and articles), a timeline would be really useful, and that we can help with as well. 

3) Content Generation. Every time #2 is done, we would be happy to help you share your findings on our company website, with appropriate credit to you because it is your work. It's not something we will own; you can use that work anywhere else you might like and that would actually be encouraged in the spirit of open sharing.

4) Brainstorming and Collaboration. Every time #3 is done, we will meet to discuss what the  topic for the next 1-2-3 round might be. That way, each week iterates on the new information that was learned from the week before. 

Internship Format:

Hybrid (both remote and in-person) 

 Hours of Operation:

Our standard hours are from 9 am to 5 pm Mountain Time, from Monday through Friday. All in-person meetings (for hybrid internships; fully remote ones are also possible) will be conducted during those hours. However, we are quite flexible on schedule changes if personal needs come up. If it's necessary, and someone here is available to meet via Zoom, after hours work is possible if it can't be done during the day. At least one person (usually myself, our CEO) will be available from 6-10 pm most days. 

Required or Recommended Skills:

Any of the following would be great, but certainly not a requirement: familiarity with data science, Python programming, cloud computing, geospatial imagery, artificial intelligence, computer vision, renewable energy, carbon removal technologies, optimization, graph networks, systems thinking, and quantum computing. A thirst for learning and a willingness to keep digging are probably the most valuable skills an intern can have. 

Number of Potential Internship Positions:

Summer - 1-4

Fall - 1-4

Spring - 1-4