SEED Internship

SEED Internship Program

Applications Open

The Students for Energy and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) internship is a paid-opportunity for Chicagoland Minority Serving Institutions undergraduate students. If you have any questions, please reach out to the SEED Program Coordinator, Dira “Mel” Delpech

SEED interns and CRI staff: (L-R) Mel Delpech, Natalie Salas, Benjamin Dam, Ariel Luecke, Jacob Morales-Makescoldweather, Deena Wright

Applications for the next cohort of interns opened on September 15th, 2024 and will close on January 24, 2025. Before you apply, make sure to read the SEED internship tips and info sheet.

SEED Internship Application

Note: All interns are required to pass a drug screening upon acceptance of the offer.

About

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the entrepreneurship program at Argonne National Laboratory, created a new paid internship program to empower Chicagoland Minority-Serving Institutions’ (MSI) students to pursue and excel in STEM careers. The goal is to seed and grow STEM interest beyond the classroom and into the career realm.

CRI SEED interns tour Argonne 

The Students for Energy & Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) intern program offers students an exciting way to combat climate change through business internships with a STEM focus paired with CRI’s clean energy and climate technology startup companies. The internship  supports a comprehensive pipeline for students to make an impact through science careers.

What You Offer

Are you interested to learn how science can address climate change? Would you like to work with a clean energy startup company in a wide-ranging business capacity? Are you looking for a paid internship that gives you professional experience? If you’re passionate about making an impact, we invite you to apply! Note: You must be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident to be a SEED intern.

What We Provide

We pair you with a CRI startup, based on compatible interests. You’ll have a mentor who designs your internship to fit your skills and goals. By the time your internship concludes, you’ll have a work project that frames your internship experience and have gained networking opportunities to continue your path forward with our support.

SEED FAQs

Question about the internship? Check out our quick explainer.

Overview

  • Focused on undergraduate students from Chicago-area MSIs
  • Summer 2025, hybrid
  • 5 students to be selected
  • Entrepreneurial focus
  • Collaborative partnerships between CRI, Argonne and CRI’s startup companies
  • Career development and exploration

Benefits

  • Paid entrepreneurial experience
  • Skill building with inclusive support
  • Mentorship and professional networking
  • Hybrid work schedule

Note: All interns are required to pass a drug screening upon acceptance of the offer.

Applications are now open for summer 2025 internships and will close on January 24, 2025.

The SEED Internship program supports the Argonne in Chicago initiatives.

For questions about Chain Reaction Innovations, the start-up companies or CRI-based programming contact [email protected].

Minority Serving Institutions

For questions about Argonne’s internship programs, onboarding or next steps contact [email protected].

CRI startup working at Argonne National Laboratory with PI

What is CRI?

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) embeds clean energy startups at Argonne National Laboratory to accelerate their technologies and bring them to market sooner than would otherwise be possible. The two-year fellowship offers access to Argonne’s world class labs and equipment along with mentorship by Argonne scientists and support from the CRI team.

CRI innovators focus on one of the most important challenges–climate change. The program’s goal is to help innovators meet the net zero carbon emissions goals to mitigate climate change.

Over the six years CRI has been in existence, the impact of the program’s startups has been considerable.