AARNet Postgraduate Research Internship Program

Work on real-world, industry-defined projects

AARNet Postgraduate Research Internship Program

Postgraduate research internship opportunities are now available with AARNet, giving students the chance to gain hands-on experience and insight into industry-led research.

Through our partnership with APR.Intern, AARNet offers postgraduate research internships that enable PhD, Doctoral, or Masters by Research students to work on real world, industry‑defined projects aligned to Australia’s national research and education network. These internships provide a structured opportunity to gain industry experience while contributing advanced research capability to priority telecommunications, digital, and security‑enabled initiatives.

Why undertake a research internship with AARNet?

Research internships bridge the gap between academic research and industry impact. As an intern at AARNet, you will have the opportunity to:

Apply your research skills to practical, industry‑led problems;
Gain insight into a complex national technology environment;
Build experience working with multidisciplinary technical and operational teams;
Strengthen employability through exposure to industry research culture; and
Expand professional networks across research, policy, and technology communities.

AARNet’s research internships are designed to be substantive, project‑based engagements, rather than observational placements.

What projects are available?

Internship projects are scoped to align with AARNet’s long‑term strategic priorities, and may include areas such as:

Advanced network technologies;
Novel AI approaches to security, network and infrastructure operations;
Digital infrastructure and research platforms; Cyber security and cyber resilience; and
Data, privacy, and security‑by‑design.

Research projects are designed so that research interns can work largely autonomously, with support from experienced industry supervisors.

Where and when are these internships available?

Duration: Typically 3–6 months (flexible depending on project and academic requirements).
Engagement model: Internships are run via APR.Intern (not direct employment).
Location: Australia-wide, however some projects may require on‑site work aligned to team location. This will be discussed prior to an internship commencing.
Supervision: An industry supervisor with relevant technical expertise and experience.

Research internships are structured around clear deliverables, milestones, and outcomes agreed upfront.

Who can apply?

You may be eligible if you are:

A PhD, other Doctoral, or Masters by Research student;
Enrolled at an Australian university;
Able to meet APR.Intern eligibility requirements; and
Interested in applying your research in an industry context.

We welcome applications from researchers of all backgrounds and disciplines relevant to our project needs.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in undertaking a research internship at AARNet, we encourage you to review available opportunities via APR.Intern and follow their application process.

If you’d like to learn more about research internships at AARNet, or wish to discuss potential project alignments, please contact us.