Industry Internships

One of the requirements for IRTG trainees at the PhD and postdoctoral levels is a part- or full-time internship or collaboration with an industry partner. These internships give trainees a sense of the real-world applications of perception and action research and expose them to science outside a university setting.

It is the responsibility of the trainee to secure an internship. On this page you will find tips for how to find an internship, what to do once you've landed one, and some examples of internships held by trainees in the past.

Some of our current and previous industry partners

Tips for finding an internship

Learn how to market yourself

Internships are an investment for both you and the industry partner. As a researcher you have many skills to offer, but you need to be proactive in showcasing those skills and marketing yourself as a potentially valuable asset to a company. Look for workshops and short courses on your campus on how to convert your CV to a résumé for industry; identify key skills you have that transfer to the workplace, and make them central to your sales pitch; practice describing your research and background in a concise, accessible way. Most importantly, educate yourself on your potential collaborators and tailor your approach to the company's values and needs.

Attend the annual industry partner meet-and-greet

The IRTG program has established connections with a few industry partners who attend the annual industry partner meet-and-greet. Bring a résumé with you and be prepared to talk to their reps about potential placements you are interested in. It's a good idea to also connect with IRTG alumni who have completed internships with these companies, and who may be able to offer specific advice and put you in touch with someone at the company.

Talk with your PI

Many professors have connections to industry and government organizations. Schedule a brainstorming session with your PI about their non-academic collaborators and projects, and discuss where you might be a good fit as an intern. Though it is your responsibility to find an internship, your PI is a valuable reference and advocate; sometimes even having them send an email on your behalf can open doors for a potential placement.

Attend university career fairs

Many universities host career and volunteer fairs for graduate and undergraduate students. These fairs are a great way to practice your interviewing skills and network with potential employers. Before committing to a placement, though, make sure it meets the IRTG placement requirements (i.e., it cannot be within the public health sector/CIHR-governed bodies, or at another academic research institution). Talk to Denise or Janice if you are unsure.

Follow up

Many companies work on tight schedules, juggle multiple clients, and have a heavy workload. Interns may not necessarily be their top priority. The onus is on you to send thank you messages, follow up with interview requests and be generally proactive in establishing and maintaining connections. Stay professional, but visible!

Once you have an internship set up

Keep a copy of any contracts signed for your records; if you are unsure about the contents of your contract, university HR staff are often willing to read over contracts and provide advice and support to students. If the internship involves a potential patent, or a publication like a whitepaper or technical paper, make sure the contract explicitly deals with issues related to intellectual property and authorship.
Update Sukhjit ( sukhjith (at) yorku.ca ) with the name of your collaborator, start and end dates of the internship, and expected number of hours/week.
If your internship involves data collection, your university may require you to show proof of approval by a research ethics board either at the university or within the industry partner's company. Talk to your department administration for details.
Some internships, especially those with on-site work, may require you to have insurance. York students are covered through the university (talk to Sukhjit for details); students at Western and Queens should be in touch with university administration to see what their coverage is like.
When you are finished: send a report to Sukhjit, including start and end dates, hours worked, and a short (maximum one page) summary of what you did during your placement and the skills you learned.

Example internships

4-month collaboration with behavioural economics firm BEWorks developing a study on cultural differences and financial risk perception (part-time)
6-month collaboration with entrepreneur PhD Associates collecting data to validate a new motion tracking & gait analysis program (part-time)
Year-long internship with learning solutions agency Metrix developing workshops and an online learning platform for a major pharmaceutical company on hemophilia and treatment options (part-time)
9 month (so far) collaboration with eyetracker manufacturer Tobii working on developing reliable non-invasive head-free eyetracking of non-human primates (part time, long distance)

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