In conjunction with the Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation (LIFT) Network, the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership has announced the opening of the LIFT Network Internship Program’s Summer 2022 Postsecondary Student Application Portal.  

Over 30 employers have submitted a total of 45 internship job postings to host undergraduate and graduate interns through the Summer 2022 cycle of the LIFT Network Internship Program, the second summer launch of the program. The 45 internship postings accounts for a 50% increase in available positions, up from 30 position postings during the Summer 2021 application cycle.  
 
As a new feature updated from the previous summer, available internships are categorized within the following career and academic pathway areas: Civil, Electrical, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering; Data Science and Analytics, Information Technology and Cybersecurity; Manufacturing Operations and Process Improvements; Research and Product Development, Software Development and Application Programming, Supply Chain and Logistics Management; and Healthcare Technology – a total of 10 pathways, overall. Undergraduate and graduate students may be directed to visit the LIFT Network Internship Program’s Job Description Database to view all available positions.  

“Robert Weed Corporation partnered with the LIFT Network Internship Program during the inaugural Summer 2021 cycle, and we ended up hosting two talented interns that provided significant impact on our overall work,” shared Robert Weed Corporation CEO, Will Weed. “Based on his contributions, we hired on Paul Geiger full-time this Fall—and though our other summer intern ultimately accepted another position within the State of Indiana, we still consider that hire as a win for our state economy as well. The talent matching, social networking and overall program support resources provided by the LIFT Network and the potential for retaining recent STEM graduates via full-time hires makes this program well worth the participation as an employer!”  

Students interested in pursuing a career in engineering, manufacturing, technology, or related fields should apply. While preference may be given to rising juniors, rising seniors, graduate students, and two-year degree students who attend a college or university in the region or who are from Elkhart, Marshall, or St. Joseph counties, students from any college/university are encouraged to apply – even for students attending college outside of the State of Indiana. All interns will be paid at least $12 an hour and will work at least 300 hours between May and August 2022. The average student wage for Summer 2021 participating interns was $16 an hour.  

Prospective interns must submit an application by February 27th. After an initial application screening process, interns will be matched, based on their skills, interests, and preferences, to regional employers who will conduct independent interview processes to determine the right fit with their organizations. Once interns have been hired, the LIFT Network and partner chambers of commerce will support interns by hosting centralized professional development, social, networking and other events for all 45 LIFT Network Interns across the region.  

In accordance with this application launch, the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership will host an additional virtual Student Information Sessions at 5:30pm on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Interested students should register for the information session using the links above or email LIFTnetwork@southbendelkhart.org.    

The LIFT Network Internship Program is supported by organizations such as the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Civic Innovation, enFocus, IT Sector Partnership, Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, the South Bend Regional Chamber, and is administered by the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership.    

For more information, please visit the program homepage.