Join a research group at RC Trust for up to 90 days. Work on a focused project in trustworthy AI. Travel, accommodation and living costs are fully funded.

Application form Explore our research groups

Deadline:

Duration
Up to 90 days
Funding
Fully funded: travel, accommodation and living costs
Working language
English
Locations
Bochum, Dortmund or Duisburg-Essen

Who can apply?

Admission is highly competitive. The program is open to applicants worldwide and is mainly aimed at Master’s and PhD students.

Bachelor’s students, postdoctoral researchers and professionals from industry who want to learn about academic research are also welcome.

Successful applicants have

  • An excellent academic record.
  • A strong background in at least one of these areas: computer science, statistics, psychology or computer security.

Interdisciplinary research experience is a plus, but not required.

How to apply

Internships last up to 90 days. There is one application round per year. The deadline for the 2027 program is
.

Admission is highly competitive. Applications are accepted only through the online form, not by email. The form is currently being prepared and will be added to this page.

  1. Explore our research

    Identify the topics and research groups that best match your interests and expertise.

  2. Complete the form

    Enter your information in the online application form once it is available.

  3. Submit on time

    Submit your application through the form by 31 December 2026. Applications by email cannot be considered.

  4. Receive the result

    All applicants will be informed of the outcome by email around the end of January or beginning of February 2027.

Already applied by email? Please resubmit your application through the online form once it is available.

If practical questions arise while planning your stay, the RC Trust team will help you find the relevant information and contacts.

Why RC Trust

At RC Trust, researchers from computer science, statistics and psychology work together on robust and trustworthy AI.

As an intern, you join one of our research groups, work closely with experienced researchers and start interdisciplinary collaborations. Depending on the project and its results, you may have the opportunity to publish at leading international conferences and in journals.

A successful internship can be a first step towards an academic career. Our research community is diverse and international, and English is our working language.

Meet our research groups
Principal investigators
14
PhD researchers
50+
Young Investigator Groups
4
Universities: Bochum, Dortmund and Duisburg-Essen
3

Life in the Ruhr Area

You will be hosted at one of our three universities in Bochum, Dortmund or Duisburg-Essen, in the heart of the Ruhr Area. Home to more than five million people, it is one of Germany’s largest metropolitan regions. Our three universities alone bring together more than 100,000 students.

The region is green, cosmopolitan and full of culture. Former industrial sites host international cultural and music events. Around 200 museums, 120 theaters, 100 cultural centers and 250 festivals a year offer plenty to discover beyond the lab.

Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf are close by, and football fans will find one of the world’s most iconic stadiums in Dortmund.

Discover life in the Ruhr Area
Campus building at Ruhr University Bochum, surrounded by trees
Ruhr University Bochum
The RC Trust research building in Dortmund, with a brick facade and turquoise window frames
TU Dortmund University · RC Trust
The curved glass facade of the Tectrum building in Duisburg
University of Duisburg-Essen · Tectrum

Intern experiences

Portrait of Daniil Filienko
“This program gives you everything you need: time, computational resources and a supportive, collaborative environment.”

Daniil Filienko

Privacy-preserving natural language processing

Read Daniil’s story
Portrait of Chris Reimann
“Being surrounded by passionate researchers from different backgrounds, all united by the goal of making AI more trustworthy.”

Chris Reimann

Safe reinforcement learning

Read Chris’s story
Portrait of Mihir Upadhyay
“There was no hierarchy. Anyone could contribute, and that freedom made the work truly engaging.”

Mihir Upadhyay

Diversity in large language model responses

Read Mihir’s story
Portrait of Nadya Hanaveriesa
“I have become much more certain about what topic I care about and want to pursue.”

Nadya Hanaveriesa

Strategic reasoning in human-AI interaction
From internship to PhD: returning in December 2026

Read Nadya’s story
Portrait of Danyang Peng

Danyang’s project explores how children can express emotions through VR-based body mapping, connecting inclusive design with collaboration involving teachers, therapists and children.

Danyang Peng

VR-based body mapping and inclusive interaction

Read Danyang’s story

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply?

The program is primarily aimed at Master’s and PhD students and is designed to foster academic exchange by enabling researchers from outside the immediate environment of the host institution to spend time at the RC Trust. Bachelor’s students, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals from industry who are interested in academic research are also welcome to apply. Students enrolled at a hosting university are not eligible.

What are the requirements?

Admission is highly competitive. You need an excellent academic record and a strong background in computer science, statistics, psychology or computer security. Interdisciplinary research experience is a plus, but not required.

How long does the internship last?

Research stays last up to 90 days.

Is the internship fully funded?

Yes. Travel, accommodation and living costs are fully covered.

Do I need to speak German?

No. English is the working language at RC Trust.

When can the internship take place?

Internships usually take place during the summer. Other dates may be possible by agreement with your host research group. All applications must be submitted through the annual application round.

Can I apply at another time of year?

No. There is one application round per year, with the deadline at the end of December. For the 2027 program, the deadline is 31 December 2026.

Can the internship become part of a thesis?

An internship can potentially be connected to a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, depending on the project and the requirements of the academic institutions involved.

Can I apply by email?

No. Applications are accepted only through the online form.

I already applied by email. What now?

Please resubmit your application through the online form once it is available. An application sent by email does not replace submission through the form.

How will I be informed of the outcome?

All applicants will be informed by email around the end of January or beginning of February 2027.

Who can help with practical questions about my stay?

The RC Trust team can help you find relevant information and contacts for practical questions, including accommodation and visa arrangements. Contact internship@rc-trust.ai.

Applications

Deadline:

Find the Application Form Here

Questions about the program?
internship@rc-trust.ai

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