Mary Gates Endowment For Students

CoMotion Mary Gates Innovation Internship

Application Opens: TBD
Application Deadline: TBD
Letter of Recommendation Deadline: TBD
Project Descriptions: View here

2023 Project Descriptions

Application Information

Program Overview

2023 Program Dates: UW Summer Term: Tuesday, June 20 – Friday, August, 18, 2023 (9-weeks)

The CoMotion Mary Gates Innovation Scholars program funds full-time summer internships in faculty-led start-up initiatives. Selected scholars will contribute to the development of these applications, gaining experience in and exposure to various aspects of building a new product/business. The participating research groups have projects at different stages of development; interns may be doing more basic research in some, or more marketing or business development in others. The project descriptions provide a good sense of what each intern will be doing. In summer 2023, our scholars will build on their strengths and extend their knowledge in new and exciting directions in a variety of fields of study.

Click here to see a list of important dates and deadlines.

Each CoMotion Mary Gates Innovation Scholar will receive a $6,000 award and two general studies course credits.

This program is open to UW undergraduate students from any of the three UW campuses who will graduate in Summer 2023 or later, and is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, international students, and undocumented students.

Questions or comments may be emailed to mgates@uw.edu.

Apply Online

Award and activities:

Students will receive a scholarship up to $6,000 to be disbursed throughout the program term. Housing is not provided for participating students. There will be cohort meetings, seminars and social activities offered throughout the summer. All interns will participate in a final culminating event.

Program Eligibility:

UW undergraduate students from any of the three UW campuses who will graduate in Summer 2023 or later; see individual project descriptions for specific internship eligibility, below.

Program Requirements:

The CoMotion Mary Gates Innovation Scholars summer internship program offers selected students an opportunity to participate in work with faculty-led UW Startup initiatives. Participating students will be expected to work full-time during the nine weeks of the program, and will not be permitted to engage in other jobs, labs, or academic courses during the program term.

Participants will be required to:

  • Complete a full-time intensive internship experience with one of the startup initiatives at/near the UW Seattle campus;
  • Enroll in two credits of General Studies;
  • Attend special seminars and workshops designed specifically for the internship program;
  • Maintain open communication with project mentor(s) and program staff throughout the summer;
  • Present their work in a culminating event, and at the 2024 UW Undergraduate Research Symposium (as appropriate).

Required application materials include .pdf versions of:

  • Statement of purpose (500 words);
  • Personal statement (optional, 150 words);
  • Your preferences of the projects listed below, including explanation of choices (500 words);
  • Your resume/C.V.;
  • Permission to access your UW transcript; and
  • One letter of recommendation from a faculty member;

The faculty recommender should be familiar with your coursework or (where applicable) prior research or internship experience. After you submit your faculty recommender contact information in the online application, your recommender will receive an email message requesting the letter. We encourage you to discuss your request for a letter of recommendation with the faculty recommender as early as possible and prior to providing your recommender’s contact information in the online system.