Becoming an Akamai Mentor

Requesting an intern be placed with you

N

Review this page to make sure mentoring in the Akamai Program is a good fit for you

N

Come up with an idea for an 8-week project

N

Obtain approval from your organization

N

Submit project idea (starting Dec 2024)

N

Meet with Akamai Program staff (Jan)

N

Finalize project description and commit to mentoring (early Feb)

N

You will be notified on whether a qualified intern is identified for your project (Mar-Apr)

Submit a Project Idea Now

Project Ideas

The project should take about 8 weeks and be of value to the mentor and their host organization AND will be valuable for interns career advancement in their field of interest.

More about project guidelines
See past project ideas

2025 timeline for mentors

  • Ideally, submit project by: Dec 13, 2024

  • Meet with Akamai staff to scope out the project: Early January 2025

  • Notification of intern placement: late March to early April

  • Mentor workshop: May 2-3 2025

  • Interns on site working on project: June 9-August 9

  • Symposia:

    • Waimea & Kona interns: TBA

    • Hilo interns: TBA

    • Maui interns: TBA

    • Santa Cruz interns: TBA

When an intern has been placed with you

N

Have a remote introductory meeting with intern (Apr-May)

N

Participate in Akamai Mentor Workshop (May, encouraged but not required)

N

Mentor your intern as they complete an 8 week project, guiding intern on project, helping them integrate into workplace, and providing career pathway perspectives (Jun-Aug)

N

Attend the symposium where your intern will present results (Aug)

N

Complete confidential, brief evaluation of intern (Aug)

General notes about mentoring with the Akamai Program

Interns Onsite

Interns will be onsite at mentor’s place of work, and need a work station

In-person mentoring

Mentors should be onsite for in-person interactions >50% of time

Time Commitment

Typically mentors spend
2-4 hours per week with intern

Co-mentoring

A co-mentor can work well; but not more than one co-mentor

INTERNS DO REAL PROJECTS

Mentors provide a project that is valuable to both the mentor and intern

What mentors can expect from the Akamai Program

Help in scoping out a productive intern project

Identification and placement of a qualified intern from the applicant pool

The program pays stipend, housing costs, airfares, and makes sure intern can get to work each day

Experienced staff team that teaches a preparatory course and provides training on communication skills, including intensive coaching for symposium talk

Check-in from staff team and help adjusting to unforeseen circumstances

More Information

Information about Akamai Internship Program

Guidance for mentor to provide productive intern projects

Mentor Workshop

Examples of past intern projects

Contact us if you have more questions: akamai@ucsc.edu

Submit a Project Idea Now