Solana Scholars research internships for PhD students

Solana Scholars is a program from the Solana Foundation that funds research internships for PhD students. Each internship lasts 3 months, with a possible extension, and pairs the scholar with the engineers and researchers working on the problem.

The topics come from what the Solana system needs next, in areas such as consensus, networking, cryptography and economics. The program says the goal is code, protocol changes or analysis that the ecosystem actually uses, and results that can also become papers or a thesis chapter.

Right now only PhD students can apply. Candidates should be enrolled in a doctoral program and should already have published at scientific conferences, for example FC, AFT, PODC, SOSP, CCS, CRYPTO or EC.

Applications are short and go through a form linked from the program page. There is no deadline, and timing is flexible so the internship fits around the PhD. The page does not state the amount of funding.

Quick answers

How much does it pay?

The official page does not state an amount. It is paid to the person as a stipend.

When is the deadline?

There is no fixed deadline. Applications are reviewed as they arrive.

Who can apply?

PhD students in distributed systems, networking, cryptography, economics or a nearby field who have already published at scientific conferences. Applicants from anywhere in the world can enter, unless the eligibility rules say otherwise.

How do I apply?

Through the official page at solanafoundation.typeform.com. The link is at the top of this page.

Can I propose my own topic?

Yes. You can pitch your own topic or express interest in one of the program's areas, and the internship is scoped together.

Do I have to move for the internship?

No. Internships can be on site, for example in Zurich or New York, or virtual.