Frequently Asked Questions
How to access student internships at Research Park?
How do I stay updated on what is going on in the Research Park?
What is Research Park?
The University of Illinois Research Park is a leading technology hub that cultivates startups and accelerates corporate innovation. Located on the southern part of campus and situated in a park-like setting, it has 19 buildings with offices, labs, and more.
How many companies are located within Research Park?
The Research Park is home to over 120 different companies and growing. Approximately 30 of these companies operate corporate innovation centers with robust internship programs. A full list of current Research Park tenants can be found on our tenant directory.
Who does Research Park hire? Are there Research Park positions for graduate students?
Research Park hires students of all academic levels and disciplines. There’s a place for freshmen, PhD students, and everyone in between, no matter what they are studying. The split between undergraduate and graduate students represents the greater student body: 25% of students are grad students, with 75% being undergrads.
When do students work at Research Park?
Students work year-round at Research Park: part-time during the school year (typically between 10-15 hours, but varies by the company) and full-time during the summer. Summer schedules and timelines vary by the company. Most companies are seeking to hire students beyond one semester or summer, but again, that depends on the company.
Are internships within the Research Park paid?
All internships and jobs in the Research Park are paid positions.
Are remote or hybrid internships available?
Companies in the Research Park highly value the in-person experience and are interested in connecting with and mentoring Illinois students face-to-face. Hybrid internships are more common during the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters). Most summer internships at the Research Park are fully in-person.
What majors do companies within Research Park hire from?
Research Park companies highly value students with multiple skill sets and talents. Hiring managers are more concerned with students’ experiences, aptitudes, and interest in their company than they are with their specific majors. The most common internships in the Research Park are positions related to software engineering and data science. There are also positions in hardware, software, modeling + simulation, UI/UX, communications, agtech, biotech, sustainability, project management business, robotics, hardware, cybersecurity, human resources, and more.
Where do I find current job and internship postings within the Research Park?
Check the Research Park Job Board frequently for newly posted positions. Positions are posted year-round, based on company needs. The most active times on the Job Board are at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.
How is the Research Park Job Board different from Handshake?
The Research Park Job Board only lists positions that are physically located on campus, within the Research Park footprint. Many of these positions are not available on Handshake.
When do internships become available?
Research Park companies hire interns year-round. Every company is on its own hiring timeline, which can change from year to year as business needs change. We recommend checking the Research Park Job Board frequently for the most updated positions and applying quickly to positions of interest. The highest volume of intern positions are posted in early fall (August/September) and early winter (December/January).
How do I make myself a competitive candidate?
Companies that have chosen to locate at Research Park are excited to meet and work with students in person! Take advantage of the many Research Park events any time that company leaders are on campus. You may see them in classrooms, at campus career fairs, and partnering with student groups. Introduce yourself, learn more about what skills they are looking for, and find out what their company is currently working on.
Also, talk to peers who are currently working at a company in the Research Park. Find out how they got hired, and ask for tips and referrals.
Stay updated on all the events hosted at Research Park with our events calendar.
Are Research Park internships considered on-campus employment?
Sometimes. There are some Research Park companies that have a contract with campus, meaning their interns are considered on-campus employees. The participating companies change frequently and vary from job to job. The Research Park does not provide a list of companies that hire students interns under this program.
Are there full-time positions in the Research Park?
Full-time positions are available, and the Research Park Job Board can be filtered to only list full-time opportunities. However, the highest volume of open positions in the Research Park are internships. Many companies convert top interns into full-time employees, so the best way to get a full-time position for a Research Park company is often to get an internship first.
Do companies in the Research Park hire international students?
Some companies in the Research Park hire international students. The number of companies that hire international students changes frequently and can depend on the position or time of year. Job descriptions typically state if the position is available to international students.
What else do international students need to know about working in the Research Park?
International students should work directly with the ISSS office to fully understand their sponsorship needs before applying for a position. This is the student’s responsibility, not the employers.
Does the Research Park have a career fair?
Research Park hosts an annual career fair during the spring semester, generally in late February. The 2025 Research Park Career Fair will be held on February 26 at the Illinois Conference Center (connected to the I Hotel).
What types of events are held in the Research Park?
Tech workshops, networking, recruitment, and social events are regularly held in the Research Park. These events are wonderful opportunities to meet people who work and hire in the Research Park community, and all are invited to attend. Check out the calendar for upcoming events. Note that pre-registration is often required. Visit our Media Gallery to view photos from past events.
Are there tours of the Research Park?
When classes are in session, the Research Park offers tours of the EnterpriseWorks startup incubator every Thursday at 3 p.m. If you are part of a group or RSO interested in coming to the Research Park for a tour, you can request a time through the Research Park Tour Request form
How do I stay updated on what is going on in the Research Park?
Sign up for one of our newsletters on the Connect page. The best newsletters for students to follow are the Research Park General Information and Announcements Newsletter, the Research Park Student Newsletter, and the Research Park Summer Intern Newsletter.
I looked on the Research Park Job Board, and there are no positions relevant to me. What do I do?
We recommend checking the Research Park Job Board around once a week. Positions are posted frequently, and often close quickly. The highest number of positions are posted in early fall (August-October) and winter (January-March).