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| 1 | +# Open Source Software Research Seed Internship Program |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +This document provides guidelines for both open-source research project |
| 4 | +maintainers and internship candidates for the OSS Research Seed Internship |
| 5 | +Program at Open Science Labs (OSL). |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +## Overview |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +The OSS Research Seed Internship Program is designed to support research |
| 10 | +projects that deliver open source software. At OSL, we are committed to bridging |
| 11 | +the gap between academic research and practical software development by helping |
| 12 | +researchers launch new projects from scratch. |
| 13 | + |
| 14 | +The program emphasizes creating a viable open-source deliverable through the |
| 15 | +collaboration of interns and active mentorship from the project's author. This |
| 16 | +initiative operates in partnership with The GRAPH Network, ensuring a structured |
| 17 | +and supportive environment for project development. |
| 18 | + |
| 19 | +## Program Structure |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +Modeled after initiatives like Google Summer of Code, the program includes: |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +- **Open Participation:** Applications are welcome from students, researchers, |
| 24 | + and professionals interested in transforming research ideas into functional |
| 25 | + open-source research projects. Applicants should submit their project |
| 26 | + proposals directly to designated mentors. |
| 27 | +- **Flexible Commitment:** Participants are expected to commit a minimum of 20 |
| 28 | + hours per week for a period of 3 to 6 months, depending on the project’s scope |
| 29 | + and the candidate's availability. |
| 30 | +- **Rolling Applications:** Candidates may apply at any time, ensuring |
| 31 | + continuous access to the program without the constraints of fixed cycles. |
| 32 | +- **Mentorship and Support:** Each project is paired with a mentor who commits |
| 33 | + at least 5 hours per week to provide daily feedback and support via a public |
| 34 | + communication channel (e.g., Discord). |
| 35 | +- **Continuous Reporting:** Interns are expected to document their progress in a |
| 36 | + blog post (on OSL Blog) through periodic blog posts (every one or two weeks), |
| 37 | + detailing the tasks completed during that period. We recommend breaking down |
| 38 | + tasks into small, manageable pull requests to facilitate frequent updates. |
| 39 | +- **Compensation Options:** Although the internship is primarily unpaid, project |
| 40 | + maintainers may choose to offer compensation through our fiscal host, the |
| 41 | + [Open Source Collective](https://opencollective.com/osl), if funding is |
| 42 | + available. |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +## Requirements for Internship Candidates |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +Candidates should meet the following criteria: |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | +- **English Proficiency:** Effective communication in English is required for |
| 49 | + collaboration. |
| 50 | +- **Age Requirement:** Applicants must be at least 18 years old. |
| 51 | +- **Time Commitment:** A minimum of 20 hours per week is required during the |
| 52 | + internship period. |
| 53 | +- **Opportunity Nature:** This is primarily an unpaid internship designed to |
| 54 | + provide practical experience and build professional networks. If any |
| 55 | + compensation is available, it will be specified by the mentors in the |
| 56 | + internship announcement. |
| 57 | +- **Initial Contribution:** Candidates must demonstrate commitment by making a |
| 58 | + preliminary contribution to their chosen project, allowing mentors to assess |
| 59 | + their skills and dedication. |
| 60 | +- **Project Criteria:** Proposals must include a detailed description, a set of |
| 61 | + initial GitHub issues, and a structured project plan for the internship |
| 62 | + period. All projects must be licensed under an OSI-approved open source |
| 63 | + license. Please check our template |
| 64 | + [here](/opportunities/internships/templates/candidate-proposal). |
| 65 | + |
| 66 | +## Guidelines for Open-Source Research Project Contributors |
| 67 | + |
| 68 | +If you are a maintainer or core contributor of an open-source research project, |
| 69 | +you can submit your project for affiliation with OSL and eligibility for this |
| 70 | +internship program. Please send a link to your project proposal to |
| 71 | +`[email protected]` using the template provided |
| 72 | +[here](/opportunities/internships/templates/projects-ideas). |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +Although pre-existing code is not required to apply for this program, each |
| 75 | +project must have an open repository (e.g., on GitHub or GitLab) with open |
| 76 | +issues detailing the planned activities and documentation outlining the project |
| 77 | +idea (for example, on the project wiki). The project idea should include a |
| 78 | +detailed description, a set of initial GitHub issues, and a structured project |
| 79 | +plan for the internship period. All projects must be licensed under an |
| 80 | +OSI-approved open source license. |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | +Affiliated projects will benefit from intern contributions, receive community |
| 83 | +support, and, where available, secure funding to support further development. |
| 84 | + |
| 85 | +--- |
| 86 | + |
| 87 | +This program offers a pathway for individuals to turn research ideas into |
| 88 | +tangible open-source projects. If you meet the requirements and are passionate |
| 89 | +about contributing to the open science community, we encourage you to apply. |
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