akamai project examples, by field and interest

Akamai interns are placed with a specific mentor and project upon acceptance to the program. Applicants are asked to identify past projects that align with their interests, which helps the selection committee make matches between applicants and mentors. Examples of projects, which are often similar to projects currently offered, by major or field of study are below.

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by location and industry.

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Examples of projects completed by past Akamai interns, by field of interest

Applicants to the Akamai Internship Program are asked to identify past projects of interest that are of interest to them, and state why they are of interest. The selection committee uses applicant response to find matches to projects offered in current year (links in blue provide more information about the project–you need to scroll down to abstract after intern bio).

Electrical engineering/electronics/computer engineering (also be sure to look at the “sensors/robotics/mechantronics” group below):

  • Characterizing a New Generation of Actuators for Use in Large Deformable Mirrors UCO 2023
  • Developing and Prototyping a Sky Monitoring System for Capturing, Displaying, and Archiving Data KBR 2022
  • Low-Level Motion and Control Systems Upgrade for Laser Guide Star Beam Steering Gemini 2019
  • Feasibility Study and Proposed Installation of Replacement UPS units for Subaru Telescope Subaru 2019
  • Designing a Motor Operated Switch for a HECO Substation, HELCO 2024
  • Commissioning an Integrated SO2 and Particle Sensor for Detection of VOG at the Maunakea Summit CFHT 2024
  • Designing a Permanent Coude Bearing Load Sensing System for DKIST DKIST 2024
  • Scripting for Space: Creating Software to Validate the Pono Satellite Payload Privateer Space 2024
  • Drafting Relay Network Diagrams for MECO Substations MECO 2025
  • Designing and Testing an Accelerometer Data Acquisition System for the Subaru Telescope Vibration Control System Subaru 2025

    Sensors/robotics/mechatronics (also be sure to look at the “electrical engineering” group above):

    • Creating a Camera Driver for a Space Domain Awareness Telescope KBR 2023
    • Characterization and Design of Eddy Current Sensors for Adaptive Secondary Mirrors UCO 2025
    • Replacing the Cryogenic Temperature Sensors for YTLA Radio Array ASIAA 2019
    • Verifying and Characterizing the Capabilities of the Actuator Control Module for the Keck Adaptive Secondary Mirror, UCO 2024 
    • Determining the Viability of Event-Based Sensors for Space Domain Awareness SSC 2025
    • Prototyping a New Autonomous Low-Light Camera System with Dynamic Image Processing for CFHT 2025

    Mechanical engineering (also might be of interest to aerospace engineering):

    • Improving Vibration Data-Collection and Analysis Processes at DKIST DKIST 2023
    • Position Characterization and Testing of a Cryogenic Rotary Stage Assembly for SCALES UCO 2022
    • Designing a Remote Focusing System for the Paranomic Cloud Monitor at Maunakea Observatories CFHT 2025
    • Developing a Finite Element Model of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope’s Primary Mirror Support System for Optical Analysis CFHT 2024
    • Mechanical Design and Analysis of a Mount Assembly for the Gemini North Adaptive Optics Laser Launch Telescopes Gemini 2019
    • Baffling Design for the Fore-Optics of the SCALES Instrument UCO 2024
    • Designing Optical Component Mounting Solutions for W. M. Keck’s Lens Alignment Station Keck 2024
    • Cooling & Reducing Thermocycling of YT Lee Array Field Programmable Gate Arrays ASIAA 2018
    • Designing a Load-Testing System for the Keck Telescopes’ Primary Mirror Actuators Keck 2025
    • Redesigning the Gemini Dome Lateral Guide Rollers for Accessibility Gemini 2024

    Astronomy and physics:

    • Deriving Properties of Eclipsing Binaries from Zwicky Transient Facility Time-Series and Color Data Gemini 2023
    • Deriving a Sky-Brightness Model to Establish Good Coronal Observing Conditions DKIST 2023
    • Creating an Extensive Spectral Database for the DKIST Flux Budget DKIST 2019
    • Informing DKIST Targeting Decisions for Optimal Coronal Observations Based on Solar and Sky Conditions DKIST 2024
    • Modeling Polarization Morphologies in Young Star-Forming Regions SMA 2018
    • Characterizing Linear Bias Between Galaxy and Dark Matter Distributions IfA Hilo 2024
    • Correlation or Causation: Solar Flares and Delta Sunspots with Strong Horizontal Magnetic Field Lines DKIST 2024

    Computer science: Machine learning/artificial intelligence:

    • Classifying Variable Stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud through Machine Learning Gemini 2023
    • Interpretability of SatNet Machine Learning Model Centauri 2019
    • Building a Project-Knowledge Management System Using Large-Language Model Agents for the Gemini Observatory Gemini 2025
    • Detecting Network Anomalies with Deep Learning: Implementing BiGAN MHPCC 2019 
    • Classifying Cloud-Based Threats to Telescope Operations with Machine Learning Gemini 2024
    • Developing a Visualization Tool for AI Generated Satellite Images MHPCC 2024

    Computer science: User interfaces/web development:

    • Rebuilding the Calibration Setup Process for a High Order Deformable Mirror Keck 2024
    • Development of an Integrated Status Monitor for the HSC Subaru 2019
    • Science Operations Specialist Group Daily Report Form Upgrade DKIST 2024
    • Enhancing Real-Time Monitoring of Radio Telescope Power Metrics with Grafana ASIAA 2025
    • Development of a 3D Telescope Mass-Balancing Simulator Using Unreal Engine for Gemini North Telescope Gemini 2025
    • Adding New Status Monitoring Functionality to the DKIST Motion-Control Systems DKIST 2025 DKIST 2025

    General computer science/programming/software development:

    • Replacing and Upgrading the Mask Design Program for Subaru Telescope’s MOIRCS Instrument Subaru 2025
    • Low-Level Motion and Control Systems Upgrade for Laser Guide Star Beam Steering Gemini 2019
    • Build Better: Prototyping Maven Build Tools for DKIST Software Systems DKIST 2024
    • Building a Photometric Pipeline for the Nickel Telescope UCO 2024
    • Developing a New Detection Algorithm for Optical Telescope Guider Systems IfA Hilo 2024 
    • Designing a Testing Framework for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope Safety System DKIST 2024
    • Investigating DKIST Enclosure Environmental Effects on Observations using Historical Engineering Data DKIST 2025

    Information technology/networking /information security: 

    • Optimizing Wireless Connectivity: A Wifi Upgrade Study for Subaru Telescope Subaru 2024
    • Development and Deployment of an Open-Source Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Environment Subaru 2023 
    • Comparative Analysis of Maintenance Management Systems DKIST 2023 
    • Upgrading the GEN2 Observation Control System Network for Higher Network Speeds and a Failover System Subaru 2022
    • Network Monitoring Alert System: Gemini Observatory 2018

    Optics/optical engineering: 

    • Fiber-Optic Performance Requirements for Keck’s FOBOS Instrument UCO 2023
    • Developing the WFOS Instrument Throughput Budget and Evaluating Optical Coatings and Materials UCO 2019
    • Creating a Focal Plane to Detector Interpolator for TMT’s WFOS UCO 2019
    • `Imaka Atmosphere Telescope Simulator IfA 2018
    • Characterization of Near-Field and Far-Field Illumination Patterns from Multimode Optical Fibers for Fiber-Fed Spectrographs UCO 2018 

    Other STEM fields: The following kinds of projects come up occasionally:

    • Comparative Analysis of Maintenance Management Systems DKIST 2023
    • An Analysis of Energy Usage and Reduction Strategies for Selected Keck Observatory Facilities Keck 2023
    • Cislunar Transfer Trajectory Study Centauri/PDS 2019
    • Building a Machine Learning Training Set Using a Hyperspectral Imager to Identify Invasive Beetles, USDA 2024
    • Integration of Harmonic Radar Technology and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Improving Insect Tracking Range and Efficiency USDA 2025

     

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