Do you want to have a lasting impact on the future of scientific discovery? Students participating in Research Data and Communication Technologies’ 2024-2025 Internship Program have the opportunity to join a team that is developing and implementing software to support federated identity management (FIM) — a system crucial to fostering and supporting cloud-based sustainable, global scientific research.
RDCT develops federated identity management software and solutions that link a user’s identity across multiple secure sites, enabling them to move between the sites quickly. FIM is fast becoming an essential part of international scientific research because it allows education networks, research organizations, and universities to quickly and securely authenticate their users. Scientists affiliated with these institutions can then collaborate on research programs and use the resources of other sites seamlessly.
RDCT will host an intern, who is a United States citizen, attending a historically black college or university (HBCU) during the 2024-2025 academic year. Our paid internships last up to two semesters, providing students the opportunity to collaborate on one or more projects in software development.
Application Deadline: May 12, 2024.
Who we’re looking for
You’re a highly motivated college undergraduate entering your sophomore year or above at an HBCU. You have demonstrated experience in programming with Python and a basic understanding of how to use Git for code management. You know how to work on the Linux platform (no additional Linux training will be provided). You’re comfortable working in a remote environment, collaborating with other team members in the U.S. and on the African continent through Slack, Zoom, and other online tools.
The National Center for Education Statistics provides a list of approved HBCUs as defined by FAR Subpart 26.3.
Program Overview
Pre-Internship Training
Between June 3 - 7, 2024 you will participate in BaseCAMP, a unique-day virtual workshop hosted by
InCommon. This training provides an introduction to the InCommon Federation and an overview and
demonstrations of the InCommon Trusted Access Platform, a community-developed identity and
access management suite that you will use extensively during your time with RDCT. RDCT will cover
the cost of this essential training. Checkout the InCommon BaseCAMP 2024 program here
https://incommon.org/academy/camp-meetings/basecamp/
Semester 1 (Fall 2024)
You’ll join the software and infrastructure-as-code development team at RDCT. Your internship will begin with a series of orientation sessions, some live and some pre-recorded. Through these, you’ll gain a better understanding of the federated identity ecosystem and how it is used by research systems and applications.
There will be several options for you to contribute to a software development project, including coding, annotating, documenting, and debugging Python and other identity management tools.
In early November, you will have the opportunity to apply to extend your internship for a second semester based on the knowledge you have gained and the contributions you have made to the project.
Semester 2 (Spring 2025)
Interns selected for the second semester will participate in more advanced software development projects. You will begin testing software in development environments and collect requirements and user stories from customers.
In the second semester, you also will have the opportunity to submit your project for presentation or a poster session at a conference (WACREN or UbuntuNet-Connect.)
Benefits of Participation
In both semesters, you can expect to spend at least 10 hours a week working on RDCT projects.
RDCT will provide a salary of $1000 per month for a maximum of 16 weeks per semester. RDCT also
will cover the cost of your participation in the five-day BaseCAMP 2024 virtual workshop.
Upon completion, you will know how to secure cloud-based applications and control authentication
and authorization for those systems. You also will have gained experience working in support of
international research labs doing leading-edge biomedical research and vaccine development and
collaborating with research and education networks.
About RDCT
Research Data and Communication Technologies (RDCT) builds and implements cyberinfrastructure for a global clientele. We help our customers develop and curate public-private partnerships that deepen bioinformatics and research capacity as well as aid in the development of international science collaboration platforms. Our solutions enable researchers at institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, and agencies within the U.S. federal government and governments worldwide to collaborate in secure online environments. Our extensive experience providing infrastructure and data management for clinical trials, bioinformatics, and research in life sciences includes a deep understanding of risk management frameworks and ethical considerations, as well as a commitment to data accuracy.
The last two decades have yielded explosive innovation in the computing and communication disciplines, transforming research and creating new information security challenges. RDCT is committed to meeting the evolving information technology, security, and data processing needs of research institutions and their collaborators.
RDCT is a member of the Internet2 InCommon Catalyst program, which recognizes companies working with Research and Education Communities to improve the tools that enable secure learning and collaboration. We also have a long history of membership in technology partnership programs with Microsoft, Cisco, and Google.
As a benefit corporation, RDCT is committed to contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable economy. We provide paid student internships and contribute coding expertise and governance. We have a commitment to developing open-source software solutions that improve research environments for scientists, particularly those working in regions of the world challenged with emerging and re-emerging pathogens.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete this form and upload your resume. Application deadline: August 15, 2021.