About the role#
Bluestaq offers a graduate research sponsorship in partnership with North Dakota State University. This program connects academic research directly to national-security mission impact. Scholars conduct research starting in Fall 2026, which culminates in a paid summer internship at Bluestaq headquarters. This role involves working on real-world capabilities in large language models, knowledge graphs, natural language processing, and agentic AI.
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 research direction and technical alignment provided by Bluestaq.
- Complete a paid summer internship as a direct continuation of your sponsored research.
- Receive hands-on mentorship and application experience in a defense-tech environment.
- Participate in 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.
- Target disciplines include Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Software and Security Engineering.
- Strong academic record and a genuine interest in applying AI and data to national-security challenges.
- Selection is made through a joint Bluestaq and NDSU review process.
- U.S. citizenship is required, and candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
Location & details#
- Academic-year research is based at NDSU in Fargo, North Dakota.
- The mandatory summer internship is located on-site at Bluestaq headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
- This position is full-time and paid.
- Sponsorship includes full tuition, fees, stipend, and health insurance for the duration of the M.S. or Ph.D. degree.
About Bluestaq
Bluestaq builds secure data infrastructure for the defense, healthcare, space, and commercial sectors. The company operates out of Colorado Springs and employs between 51 and 200 people. It was founded in 2018. The firm focuses on data analytics, machine learning, and space situational awareness.
How to get in at Bluestaq
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.
