About the role#
Bluestaq is launching a graduate research sponsorship in partnership with North Dakota State University (NDSU). This program provides full tuition, fees, a stipend, and health insurance for the duration of an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. The program begins with sponsored research in Fall 2026 and culminates in a paid summer internship at Bluestaq headquarters in 2027. This initiative connects academic research directly to national security and defense missions.
What you'll do#
- Conduct research in focus areas including Large Language Models, Data Sourcing and Tagging, Knowledge Graph, Agentic AI, Natural Language Processing, and Prompt Engineering.
- Work independently and with NDSU faculty advisors, with technical direction provided by Bluestaq.
- Complete a paid summer internship at Bluestaq headquarters as a direct continuation of your research.
- Receive hands-on mentorship and experience in a defense-tech environment.
- Contribute to research that has immediate mission impact.
What you'll need#
- Currently enrolled or incoming M.S. or Ph.D. student at North Dakota State University.
- Academic background in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Software and Security Engineering.
- Strong academic record and interest in applying AI and data to national security challenges.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
- Selection is determined through a joint Bluestaq and NDSU review process.
Location & details#
- Academic-year research is based at NDSU in Fargo, North Dakota.
- The summer 2027 internship is on-site at Bluestaq headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
- Summer internship compensation for M.S. students is $28–$35 per hour.
- Summer internship compensation for Ph.D. students is $34–$42 per hour.
How to get in at Bluestaq
Intern Insider's per-company playbook.
Securing an internship at Bluestaq requires timing your application correctly. Because early applicants are often reviewed before the candidate pool grows, Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, ensuring you can apply among the first. This helps you stay ahead of the volume of incoming resumes. Beyond timing, connecting with the right people is helpful. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company's roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves response rates compared to cold applications.
