STEP ACCESS: Student Training and Engagement Program
STEP-1: 2-week introductory experience
Join us for a dynamic two week experience in Miami, FL in May! We cover your travel, provide accommodations, and give you a stipend. This program is designed to help you:
- Become more aware of the many areas of interest within the field: web programming, high performance computing, cybersecurity, networking, real use of AI
- Determine where your interests are
- Discover what areas of study you should pursue in the future
- Experience high levels of direct interaction with diverse groups with diverse skill sets
Apply Here: STEP Application Form
STEP-2: Full-time for the summer
After STEP-1, you’ll be eligible for STEP-2! This is a full-time, paid summer program (in-person + virtual) where you work on projects in web programming, high-performance computing, cybersecurity, networking, and implementations of AI. We cover travel, and accommodations for in-person events, plus take you to a national conference.
Example Projects:
- Students in cybersecurity will work with CONECT cybersecurity professionals to help protect ACCESS’s CI– a highly complex and heterogeneous environment that is constantly under attack–by managing vulnerabilities, analyzing security log data, and performing security vetting tasks.
- Students in operations will create and monitor the information-sharing platform technology stack, aid the curation of assets for the AI-chatbot, and use APIs to push information to various platforms (e.g., Ask.CI, etc.).
- Students in data and networking will install and use perfSONAR, learn networking best practices, Linux systems management, and testing methodologies, and identification and resolution of networking performance issues.
STEP-3: Part-time during the school year
Looking for a year-round experience? After STEP-1 and STEP-2, you’ll be eligible for STEP-3. You’ll continue working (virtually) with your team on projects on a part-time, paid basis during the academic year. We will also take you to the annual SC conference.
Eligibility Criteria
All students who apply to STEP must be:
- Students attending US-based institutions
- Enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree or masters/PhD
- In good academic standing at their college or university
- Available full-time during the program
- At least 18 years of age by the start date of the program
- Some software development experience with Python is desired as well as some UNIX/Linux
Priority is given to populations historically underrepresented in STEM, including women and those from minority-serving institutions (MSIs)—such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and schools with low levels of research activity, including community colleges.
Program Requirements
- STEP participants must live in campus housing — arranged by the STEP Coordinator
- STEP participants must attend weekly seminars and professional development events
- STEP participants must prepare and submit a written report of the work done
- STEP participants must give an oral presentation of work performed at the STEP Site
- STEP participants will work up to 30 hours per week on projects and up to 10 hours per week on professional development, attending program-wide activities and other engagements
- STEP participants are asked to assist in further recruitment at their respective school
Important Dates
- Online application: Due March 15, 2023
- Program dates: STEP-1: May 15 – 27, STEP-2: June 5 – July 28
Acceptance
Offers of acceptance will go out by email on a rolling basis, so apply early. After the acceptance process is complete, the remaining applicants will be notified by email.
Once the program offer is accepted, a STEP participant is obligated to complete the portion of the STEP program they were accepted for and meet the program requirements.
General Information: This is a female-led program that is dedicated to being inclusive! US-based domestic and international students are eligible to apply if they are enrolled at a US-based educational institution.
