Project Ideas Contribution Guidelines Candidates' Guide Template: Projects Ideas Template: Candidates's Project Proposal

Open Source Software (OSS) Research Seed Internship Program #

This document provides guidelines for both open-source research project maintainers and internship candidates for the OSS Research Seed Internship Program at Open Science Labs (OSL).

Overview #

The OSS Research Seed Internship Program is designed to support research projects that deliver open source software. At OSL, we are committed to bridging the gap between academic research and practical software development by helping researchers launch new projects from scratch.

The program emphasizes creating a viable open-source deliverable through the collaboration of interns and active mentorship from the project's author. This initiative operates in partnership with The GRAPH Network, ensuring a structured and supportive environment for project development.

Program Structure #

Modeled after initiatives like Google Summer of Code, the program includes:

  • Open Participation: Applications are welcome from students, researchers, and professionals interested in transforming research ideas into functional open-source research projects. Applicants should submit their project proposals directly to designated mentors.
  • Flexible Commitment: Participants are expected to commit a minimum of 20 hours per week for a period of 3 to 6 months, depending on the project’s scope and the candidate's availability.
  • Rolling Applications: Candidates may apply at any time, ensuring continuous access to the program without the constraints of fixed cycles.
  • Mentorship and Support: Each project is paired with a mentor who commits at least 5 hours per week to provide daily feedback and support via a public communication channel (e.g., Discord).
  • Continuous Reporting: Interns are expected to document their progress in a blog post (on OSL Blog) through periodic blog posts (every one or two weeks), detailing the tasks completed during that period. We recommend breaking down tasks into small, manageable pull requests to facilitate frequent updates.
  • Compensation Options: Although the internship is primarily unpaid, project maintainers may choose to offer compensation through our fiscal host, the Open Source Collective, if funding is available.

Requirements for Internship Candidates #

Candidates should meet the following criteria:

  • English Proficiency: Effective communication in English is required for collaboration.
  • Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
  • Time Commitment: A minimum of 20 hours per week is required during the internship period.
  • Opportunity Nature: This is primarily an unpaid internship designed to provide practical experience and build professional networks. If any compensation is available, it will be specified by the mentors in the internship announcement.
  • Initial Contribution: Candidates must demonstrate commitment by making a preliminary contribution to their chosen project, allowing mentors to assess their skills and dedication.
  • Project Criteria: Proposals must include a detailed description, a set of initial GitHub issues, and a structured project plan for the internship period. All projects must be licensed under an OSI-approved open source license. Please check our template here.

Guidelines for Open-Source Research Project Author #

If you are the author of an open-source research project, you can submit your project for affiliation with OSL and eligibility for this internship program. Please send a link to your project proposal to team@opensciencelabs.org using the template provided here.

Although pre-existing code is not required to apply for this program, each project must have an open repository (e.g., on GitHub or GitLab) with open issues detailing the planned activities and documentation outlining the project idea (for example, on the project wiki). The project idea should include a detailed description, a set of initial GitHub issues, and a structured project plan for the internship period. All projects must be licensed under an OSI-approved open source license.

Affiliated projects will benefit from intern contributions, receive community support, and, where available, secure funding to support further development.

This program offers a pathway for individuals to turn research ideas into tangible open-source projects. If you meet the requirements and are passionate about contributing to the open science community, we encourage you to apply.

Last update: 2025-03-25