15 Tech Internships for Undergraduates in Kentucky
- Stephen Turban
- 2 minutes ago
- 11 min read
Internships are one of the most effective ways for you to move beyond classroom learning and gain real exposure to how industries actually work. As a college student, a strong internship can help you build professional skills, understand workplace expectations, and form meaningful connections with mentors and peers, while also strengthening your resume with concrete, outcome-driven experience. If you are interested in technology, internships become even more valuable, since hands-on work with software, data, engineering systems, or applied research is often what sets candidates apart in competitive hiring cycles.
What tech internships are available for undergraduates in Kentucky?
Tech internships in Kentucky range from university-hosted research programs and state-level data internships, remote opportunities, to industry placements in engineering, manufacturing, software, and applied analytics. Many opportunities here are paid, offer structured mentorship, and allow you to work on long-term projects and boost your technical knowledge. Depending on the role, you may gain experience with coding, data analysis, engineering systems, product development, or policy-driven technology applications.
To help you shortlist the right options, we have put together 15 tech internships for undergraduates in Kentucky. For this list, we focused on programs that stand out for their prestige, the rigor of the professional experience, and strong opportunities to network with engineers, researchers, founders, and industry professionals.
If you are looking for more prestigious internships beyond Kentucky, you can check out this set of blogs!
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
Location: Pre-requisite course at Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, Lexington, KY, and Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY; startup placements across Kentucky
Stipend: Available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies; internships typically last 6–18 months
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, graduates, and professionals who completed KCV Innovation Fellowship or NKU entrepreneurship coursework (ENTP 201 & 302); must live in Kentucky
To be an INVENT intern, you will begin with structured pre-internship training focused on technology commercialization. Then, you will be matched with a paid placement at a Kentucky-based startup. The program emphasizes hands-on work in emerging technology sectors such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing, where you will contribute to real startup operations. You will develop practical skills in research translation, business model development, and early-stage product and commercialization workflows. Internships are paid through the program and can extend for up to 18 months, allowing you to experience sustained responsibility while working on long-term projects. You will also receive training through cohort sessions, guided exercises, and coaching from KCV staff to ensure readiness before placement.
Location: Logan Aluminum, Russellville, KY
Stipend: Paid; competitive salary with possible housing assistance or allowance
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Internships: May – August
Co-ops: Fall or Spring
Application deadline: No fixed deadline listed
Eligibility: Undergraduate students majoring in computer science, computer engineering, or closely related fields with a minimum GPA of 3.0; applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and able to participate full-time in person.
This is a nine-week, NSF-funded research internship focused on computer systems at the hardware–software interface. The program allows you to engage in research focused on operating systems, parallel and distributed systems, embedded systems, and computer architecture, while undergoing structured training in systems programming, Linux environments, and performance evaluation. You will work closely with faculty and graduate mentors on an independent research project while receiving weekly instruction on research methods, experimentation, and technical writing. The program also includes lab tours and exposure to enterprise-scale computing infrastructure. At the end, you will complete a final technical report and poster presentation, gaining experience in communicating complex systems research.
Location: Logan Aluminum, Russellville, KY
Stipend: Paid; competitive salary with possible housing assistance or allowance
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Internships: May – August
Co-ops: Fall or Spring
Application deadline: No fixed deadline listed
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with sophomore standing or above in a relevant major; must be authorized to work full-time in the U.S.
Logan Aluminum offers paid, full-time internships and cooperative education opportunities for undergraduates interested in large-scale manufacturing, industrial systems, and applied engineering. You will work on real operational and technical projects under the guidance of experienced professionals in departments such as information systems, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, or human resources. Internships typically run for three months during the summer, while co-op roles may span three to six months during the academic year. The program emphasizes hands-on problem-solving, exposure to industrial processes, and collaboration within cross-functional teams.
Location: Coastal office in Lexington, KY (other office locations available)
Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 8–12 weeks; offered in summer, fall, or spring
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students, juniors and seniors preferred; must commute to office and have full-time, permanent U.S. work authorization
The Junior Salesforce Analyst internship at Coastal is a part-time, paid program where you will work on-site at Coastal for 8 to 12 weeks. You will shadow real client calls and internal meetings, learning what day-to-day work looks like at a technology consulting firm. A major portion of your time will be spent working with a team on a case study built around real client scenarios, which you will present at the end of the program. You will also prepare for and sit for the Salesforce Certified Administrator Exam, with Coastal covering the cost of the certification. By the end of the internship, you will have hands-on Salesforce experience and practice with communication and presentation skills relevant to a career in technology consulting.
Location: Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Frankfort, KY (hybrid)
Stipend: $16 – $20/hour
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: September 1 – April 30
Application deadline: July 11
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students; preference for data-related fields such as computer science, statistics, public policy, or social sciences
This paid research internship places you within Kentucky’s statewide higher-education coordinating agency to work with the Data and Advanced Analytics unit. You will analyze large administrative datasets to identify trends in student access, affordability, and outcomes, contributing to reports used by policymakers and state leadership. The role allows you to practice applied technical skills within SQL querying, statistical analysis, and data visualization using tools such as R, Tableau, and Stata. You will also develop original research projects, prepare written publications, and present findings to internal and external stakeholders.
Location: Awesome Inc, Lexington, KY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Spring: January 20 – May 1
Summer: May 19 – August 14
Fall: August 18 – December 11(15–20 weeks total)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Late high school students through recent college graduates; must work in Lexington, KY | Requires project portfolio and GitHub experience; React experience preferred
Team Alpha is Awesome Inc's internship program, based in its Lexington co-working space. The Web Development role, one of the several tracks available, allows you to contribute to the company’s custom software development processes. The program's goal is to build on skills you already have rather than teach you the basics from scratch. As a web development intern, you will work with GitHub and React to assist web and mobile app development teams with daily tasks. The role also allows you to connect with personnel working on growing Lexington’s tech and startup community.
Location: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Stipend: $7,000; includes on-campus housing (meals not included)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 26 – August 5
Application deadline: Opens in November; deadline varies by year
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in engineering, physical sciences, or related STEM fields
This is a 10-week, NSF-funded research internship focused on advanced manufacturing technologies, with emphasis on micro/nano-fabrication and additive manufacturing (3D printing). The program combines structured technical training with an independent research project carried out in university cleanrooms and specialized manufacturing labs. You will receive hands-on exposure to tools such as SEM and optical microscopy, along with safety training and fabrication workflows used in research and industry. You will present your work at professional conferences, including a national REU convocation, building experience in technical communication. Faculty mentorship and professional development sessions are integrated throughout the program. This opportunity is best suited if you are interested in applied manufacturing, materials, or device-focused engineering research.
Location: Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Stipend: $15.75/hour (40 hours/week)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 18 – July 29
Application deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Incoming or current undergraduate students interested in geoscience, environmental science, engineering, geography, or data-focused research
This program is a 10-week, paid research internship designed to help you work on applied geoscience projects that combine field data collection with computational analysis. Projects often involve GIS workflows (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), hydrologic and flood modeling, LiDAR and drone data analysis, and geochemical or geophysical measurements. You will work on an individual project while collaborating within a larger research team at the Kentucky Geological Survey. You will receive close mentorship and participate in professional development activities, including resume reviews and public speaking training. The program concludes with a formal presentation at a lightning talk and poster session, helping you gain experience in technical communication of data-driven research. This option is best suited if you’re interested in environmental technology, spatial data analysis, or research that blends software tools with real-world field applications.
Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Stipend: $7,000; includes on-campus housing and up to $300 relocation support
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 18 – July 24
Application deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate students; rising juniors or seniors preferred; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
As an REU participant at the University of Kentucky, you will participate in a 10-week, NSF-funded research internship focused on the engineering of bioactive materials and device interfaces that interact with biological systems. The program centers on three technical themes—novel bioactive architectures, cell/protein interactions at interfaces, and integration into devices—with projects spanning interdisciplinary areas like biomaterials, nanotechnology, and device design. You will work under faculty and graduate student mentorship across tech and biomedical disciplines, contributing to research that blends materials engineering, computational design, and experimental validation. You will also learn about research workflows and technical communication, with your experience culminating in a formal presentation of results.
Location: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Stipend: $5,500
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are Kentucky residents studying out of state or attending in-state colleges excluding University of Louisville and University of Kentucky; must be 18+ and U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is a full-time, mentored summer research experience focused on biomedical questions within Kentucky’s statewide research infrastructure. You will work on data-driven research, often involving statistical analysis, computational workflows, or bioinformatics tools supported by the program infrastructure. You will collaborate closely with a faculty mentor and learn about research practices, from data collection and analysis to documentation and reproducible methods. You will also gain exposure to modern research infrastructure, including bioinformatics and imaging support resources maintained by the KY INBRE network. The program ends with the presentation of your research outcomes, allowing you to gain experience in science communication.
Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Stipend: $7,000; includes free on-campus housing, meal allowance, and round-trip travel support
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 25 – July 31
Application deadline: February 15; rolling until filled
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
This is a 10-week, NSF-funded research internship focused on physics and astronomy projects unified by themes of symmetry. The program offers technical training in computation and data analysis, alongside mentored research opportunities within faculty-led labs. You will work closely with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers while developing research workflows that support publishable scientific outcomes. You will present results at a poster session and will be encouraged to present at regional or national conferences, building experience in technical communication. The program also offers professional development seminars and exposure to national research infrastructure, including a visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Location: Virtual or Johnson & Johnson sites across the U.S., including Kentucky
Stipend: Paid; varies by education level and role
Dates: 10–12 weeks; exact dates vary by internship
Application deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree students or higher with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Johnson&Johnson offers a variety of internship opportunities to undergraduates and graduate-level students, including opportunities in tech. As an intern, you will work on active projects within areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, decision science, software engineering, and experience design. Typically, internships last 10 to 12 weeks, and the precise structure can vary by role and location. As an intern, you will contribute to ongoing work, learn how to manage multiple tasks, and connect with professionals across functions. The internship also gives you the opportunity to apply tech skills in a professional setting, while exploring how a global organization operates.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Vary by year
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in Computer Science or related fields, must have completed Introduction to Programming and Data Structures & Algorithms courses, and be studying in the U.S.
The Uber Career Prep Fellowship is an online program for undergraduate students interested in exploring software engineering. As a Fellow, you will attend online workshops on technical skills, communication, interviews, and goal-setting. You will work on technical assignments, which will prepare you for workplace experiences in the tech industry. While working on these assignments, you will connect with an Uber engineer who will offer one-on-one mentorship and feedback.
Location: Remote
Stipend: $20–$26/hour
Dates: Not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students pursuing a technical or business degree; experience with automation scripting (Python, PowerShell), Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation), or DevOps/DevSecOps; prior IT security or incident management experience preferred.
As a Security Engineering intern at EBSCO, you will join the Security Operations (SecOps) team and work alongside cybersecurity professionals across IT, Network, Engineering, and Security Architecture. Your day-to-day work will involve monitoring for security issues, contributing to incident response exercises, and helping tune security alerts using tools like SIEM, XDR, and endpoint detection platforms. You will also get exposure to cloud security, specifically AWS environments, and work within frameworks such as FedRAMP, NIST, and ISO 27001. Supporting automation and scripting efforts to improve security processes is another part of the role, so familiarity with Python or PowerShell can be helpful.
One other option—Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Johnson & Johnson logo