EDI invites internships of students of higher education institutions from Latvia and other countries. We accept applications on a rolling basis, with no strict deadlines. It is possible to design the internship as a trilateral agreement between the university, the student and the EDI to meet the requirements of higher education institutions.
Internship can be combined with development of master or bachelor thesis: see our list of offered topics for a guidance — although we also welcome proposals for other topics!
Internships at EDI
In what areas are internships offered?
It is possible to find tasks in all areas studied by EDI, including development of embedded devices – hardware and software, machine learning, image processing, work with FPGA, network protocol programming, web development, mobile application development, etc. The specific internship tasks are determined by the internship supervisor.
Why should I choose to become an intern at EDI?
Internship at EDI can be both a way of getting your first job experience and an opportunity to work on topics of interest with the support of an experienced supervisor and using modern research infrastructure. For many students, an internship at EDI is the best way how to develop their bachelor or master thesis.
How to become an intern at EDI?
Please email info@edi.lv with your CV. We’ll contact you and invite you to the Institute at a mutually appropriate time, or schedule an online call.
I don’t have the knowledge/skills/education diploma/other things that I think EDI needs or I’m uncomfortable bothering unfamiliar people through email.
Knowledge and skills can be learned through practice. Leave an assessment of your suitability for us; it is important that you have sufficient interest in the area; showing an initiative and applying is one way how to demonstrate it. In any case, we will be happy to see your application, even if you haven’t had any contact with EDI previously.
What are the requirements for becoming an intern at EDI?
The main requirements are two: interest in the subject and readiness to learn. At the time of the start of the internship, we do not require any expertise beyond what can be learned in higher education courses. We also have experience with interns who are still in school.
Are internships at EDI officially recognized by universities?
Yes, internships at EDI are regularly used to, for example, meet the requirements of the Bachelor of Computer Science course at the University of Latvia. We recommend that your consult your university about the exact procedure.
What is the duration of the internship?
The internship generally isn’t longer than a few months. If writing a thesis is the main goal, the duration may depend on the progress in this task.
What are the opportunities after the end of the internship?
Many EDI employees at the institute have been interns here before starting working here in a project position. EDI currently has enough projects to switch to permanent, salaried employment in the event of mutual interest.
What infrastructure is offered by EDI?
EDI offers a modern working environment: communication through Slack, its version control server GitLab, its own cloud computing environment, capabilities to use the High-Performance Computing Cluster (e.g. for machine learning tasks).
Thesis development at EDI
What areas are suitable for thesis topics at EDI?
EDI is engaged in research in the fields of electronics, signal processing, telecommunications, and computer science, and in the development of science-intensive electronic equipment and software. EDI specializes in smart embedded cooperative systems, including machine learning, computer networks, information security, and other practical engineering tasks related to innovation. For more information, see: https://www.edi.lv/en/for-students/
What are the benefits of working on my thesis at EDI?
- Opportunity to work on topics of real-world and practical importance
- Bachelor’s, master’s, and other theses that have been developed at EDI on average receive higher grades than other students. More than 90% of works developed at EDI receive one of the two highest grades (10 – “izcili” and 9 “teicami”).
- For the development of the thesis, we offer an internship at EDI and opportunities to use the research infrastructure of EDI.
- Experienced supervisors are available, both with technical expertise and expertise in academic supervision.
- Other EDI staff members (specialists in their fields) are approachable for questions.
- There is a significant freedom to choose your own topic. Our topics don’t need to narrowly match the needs of a specific customer or business directions, like topics in a private enterprise might be.
- It can become the beginning of a career at EDI.
Is EDI attached to a specific institution of higher education?
EDI is an independent scientific institute. Our employees work as trainers and researchers at the University of Latvia (LU), Riga Technical University (RTU), Transport and Communications Institute (TSI), and other national universities. Students from these and other universities, including ERASMUS + students from abroad, are welcome at EDI.
Can my thesis supervisor be from EDI?
According to cooperation agreements with RTU, LU, and VeA, the Institute is a research base for these universities and has equivalent rights and responsibilities in the supervision of academic works. In case of questions, please contact your university.
Starting to work at EDI
What is the range of salaries offered by the institute?
As a general rule, when you start EDI, you are linked to a specific research project. The salary at EDI depends on the project. For support and technical staff, it is typically in the range from 8 to 14 EUR / hour for government and European structural fund projects; other projects (Horizon Europe and contract research projects) offer a different (higher) amount, including significantly higher amounts for key specialists. If you are already an experienced specialist and are willing to produce scientific results, you apply to be elected as a scientist. Three levels are available: a research assistant (requires a bachelor’s degree), a researcher (requires a master’s degree, sufficient experience, and multiple scientific publications), or a senior researcher (requires a doctorate, experience, and publications). These positions offer significantly higher salaries. The salary ranges and policies are openly available at the intranet site of EDI.
Who is going to be my manager?
EDI has a two-way organizational structure: all scientific and scientific engineering workers belong to one of four EDI laboratories, and at the same time almost all employees work on specific projects (one or more). People from several laboratories often collaborate on the same project. The manager of the project you work in is usually your direct supervisor. This person sets your job responsibilities and helps you with project-related issues. Your administrative manager, in turn, is either the head of your laboratory or a laboratory employee appointed by him. This person organizes the activities of the laboratory, helps you to fill out the necessary paperwork, and handle other tasks not directly related to scientific research or technology.
What are some other key people at EDI?
When you start, you will be acquainted with the head of the staff department, as well as with the job security specialist. It should also be mentioned that EDI is not a large institute and its staff can easily access and communicate with the administration: the Director, the Director of Development, the Administrative Director, the Procurement Specialists, HR specialist, etc.
Can the final thesis be developed as part of my direct work duties?
This depends on the specific project in which your work, and on the topic of the final thesis. If these two are sufficiently similar, many aspects of the final work can be carried out as part of your normal work duties; it’s even advisable to do so. Best ask this question to the supervisor of the project you’re working on.
Is training offered to new employees?
After starting to work at EDI, it is usually possible to dedicate part of your working time for learning purposes. In cases where several EDI staff or trainees want to improve their knowledge, joint training groups are organized. For example, joint, regular training sessions on machine learning recently were conducted. In these sessions, several EDI staff members jointly acquired a number of MOOC courses. Similarly, EDI workshops are underway, in which employees tell about their scientific activities and present the technologies they use.
Why should I choose to work at EDI?
EDI is a state-of-the-art research organization involved in many international projects. EDI received the highest rating in Latvia in the last international evaluation of scientific institutions (in the field of engineering and computer science). Working here allows combining academic research with practical solutions for entrepreneurs and society. These two components can be balanced depending on your own expectations and capabilities. Most of the scientific staff are young.
What other benefits are available for EDI employees?
- health insurance for full-time employees after the end of the probationary period
- discount at the Institute canteen
- a small gym, a ping-pong tennis table, and a beach volleyball area
- a free parking lot
What career opportunities are provided by EDI?
EDI has great opportunities for long-term scientific and technical, international, and local projects within the Institute. After one project ends, the opportunity to work on the next, similar project is almost always available. However, you should also know that EDI’s former employees work for both the leading Latvian electronics and IT companies, and in their own start-ups, as well as abroad: research institutions, universities, and industry.