The Pozen Fellowship is a summer entrepreneurship internship program for MIT undergraduate students interested in working for an MIT-founded startup.
This is a 10-week paid internship connecting students with MIT delta v alumni companies. Students that are selected for the program as interns are officially known as “Pozen Fellows.”
Applications for summer 2024 are now closed.
Info Session Recording
Info Session Slides
The Pozen Fellowship program is made possible through a generous donation by Bob Pozen. We thank him for his support of the Trust Center, but, more importantly, the support of MIT students and startups.
NEWS: “Trust Center announces Endowment of Internship by Bob Pozen”
Interested in the startup life?
An internship through the Pozen Fellowship may be right for you! It’s a paid summer internship program open to ALL undergraduates at MIT* and provides an immersive work experience at a startup founded by MIT delta v alumni. (* first-years, sophomores, and juniors only; graduating seniors are not eligible)
You will be working side-by-side with the founding team and have an opportunity to work on meaningful projects, receive one-on-one mentoring, and determine if startup life is for you.
Pozen Fellowship Overview
The Pozen Fellowship is a 10-week paid internship program designed for MIT students who are interested in experiencing what it is like to work at a startup full-time.
During the summer, students will:
- gain an understanding of how an early-stage startup functions
- be assigned to projects based on their skill set and the startup’s business strategy
- experience true action learning by having an opportunity to immerse themselves in startup life
- work side-by-side with the founding team and collaborate with a mentor.
The internship program is not for credit; selected students become Pozen Fellows and will be considered to be on the MIT student payroll system, receiving a weekly salary of $800. (Taxes will be taken out of your paychecks automatically.)
During the 10-week internship, students will have a check-in with a member of the Martin Trust Center to discuss startup life and initial learning. At the end of the summer, students will complete a five-page reflection paper on their experience as Pozen Fellows.
Why you should apply:
2024 Timeline
(dates subject to change)
Our 2023 Pozen Fellows
The internship not only allowed me to learn about entrepreneurship and technical skills within a real, growing startup, but it also inspired me to continue to pursue a career in entrepreneurship whether it is … another startup, or even creating my own.
I definitely have a better idea of what’s out there in terms of career paths, as well as what a future in startups would look like, and I think it’s something I want to strongly consider moving forward.
This internship has been an amazing experience with tons of learning opportunities through direct, practical experience. Beyond just working on cool projects with real, tangible impact, I got the chance to work in an unified, fast-paced organization with a culture built around discovery and service.
I appreciated how quickly my work became part of the product. It was great seeing my programmed screens on the app being used in testing by our clients, getting feedback, actually implementing the feedback, and then producing a finished product in our client’s hands.
The [internship] was a huge change from the structured learning I was used to, and while it was a bit intimidating at first, I grew to appreciate the adaptability it inspired within me. This shifted my perspective on entrepreneurship – it’s not just about product development or securing a spot in the market. It’s also about being strategic and well-organized.
Comparing this experience to the … tools learned in class illuminated the difference between university and industry workflow. I had the chance to explore my problem-solving skills and use creative perspectives more than I expected.
I learned a great deal about leadership … and that it’s imperative to work with people who are invested in their work. This placed the work of an entrepreneur into perspective. Some days are less glamorous than others. But working with a dedicated team makes an enormous difference.
I got to take ownership of the projects I worked on, and I got to see so many more sides of running a business than I could in any other internship. Thank you for the opportunity.
My internship experience at a startup has been nothing short of transformative. Stepping into the dynamic and fast-paced world of a startup company was a rollercoaster ride that challenged, inspired, and enriched me in ways I never anticipated.
This experience underscored the significance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone … [it] has been transformative, enhancing my technical, interpersonal, and social skills, which I know will serve me well in all facets of my life [and] has ignited a passion for entrepreneurship within me.
FAQ
Q: Who should apply to be a Pozen Fellow?
The internship program is open to all undergraduate students at MIT. Anyone interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, or learning more about startups should apply.
Q: Are the internships only open to MIT undergraduates?
Yes, this program is open only to MIT undergraduates, specifically first-years, sophomores, and juniors only; graduating seniors are not eligible. Any student in any course may apply.
Q: Will I get credit for the internship?
The internship program is not for credit. Participants will be on the MIT student payroll system and receive a weekly salary of $750.
Q: What is the time commitment?
Participants are required to work full-time at their internship for 10 weeks between the beginning of June and mid-August.
Q: Can I apply for multiple internships?
Yes, you can apply to multiple internship positions. During the application you will be prompted to select the positions for which you would like to be considered.
Q: Will I be working at the startup?
Depending on the nature of the role and its responsibilities, the internship may be in-person, remote, or hybrid. Each company has listed the expectations and requirements for the position in the job description.
Q: Is it okay to request to learn new responsibilities outside of the job description (i.e., business analytics during a software engineering internship)?
Yes, absolutely! You may be one of just a couple members of the startup team over the summer (depending on what stage the company is in), so most founders would be receptive of your interest in learning more skills and helping out, so long as your primary job function is under control. Working at a startup is more hands on than working at a larger company, so chances are you may have to pitch in in other areas anyway. That said, keep in mind that you are limited by the rules of the internship to working only 40 hours per week, so any and all responsibilities would need to be completed during your regular work hours.
Pozen Fellowship Faculty
Bill Aulet
Greg Wymer2023-08-09T15:33:19+00:00Ethernet Inventors Professor of the Practice, MIT Sloan School ...
Kripa Varanasi
Greg Wymer2021-02-14T20:32:36+00:00Professor of Mechanical Engineering Kripa K. Varanasi ...
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