The Summer 2026 apprenticeships will be posted in early March 2026. 

Students can view the positions offered in previous summers in the SHARE Summer Apprenticeship Opportunity Archive.

Prior to applying, students are encouraged to review the SHARE Summer Application Outline. The application outline provides an overview of the application you will find on the Quest Portal, including the standard set of application questions that all applicants will be required to answer. Faculty may also elect to add additional questions specific to their apprenticeship. If there are additional questions, they will be noted in the apprenticeship descriptions.

If you have questions about the SHARE Apprenticeship program or want to discuss your application, schedule an appointment with program coordinator Melissa Berkey or contact her through email at melissa.berkey@uconn.edu.

Eligibility and Award Terms

To be eligible to apply, a student applicant must:

• Be majoring or pre-majoring in social sciences, humanities, and/or or arts field at any UConn campus. ACES/undecided students are also eligible to apply.
  • There are several interdisciplinary majors that span academic fields. If you're unsure if your major is SHARE eligible, please contact Melissa Berkey (melissa.berkey@uconn.edu) to discuss your eligibility.
• Be a first-, second-, or third-year undergraduate student who is graduating no earlier than December 2026.
• Be in good academic standing at the time of application and remain in good academic standing while participating in the program.
• Be eligible for on-campus employment. International students interested in the SHARE program should consult with the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) Office for information on their eligibility for employment on-campus.

Please reach out to Melissa Berkey (melissa.berkey@uconn.edu) if you have questions on eligibility.

You do not need prior research or creative experience to apply for a SHARE apprenticeship. This program prioritizes early career students with little or no prior experience.

The goal of this program is to foster new student-faculty connections. As part of the award conditions, faculty mentors are asked to select a student they are not currently working with and/or have not previously worked with in a research or project capacity.

Students are only eligible to participate in the SHARE program once during their time at UConn. Students who have held a SHARE apprenticeship in a previous summer cannot apply for a second apprenticeship. In addition, students are limited to one SHARE apprenticeship in a summer. Students selected for multiple apprenticeships will be asked to choose which apprenticeship they want to accept.

Award Terms:

• Apprentices will earn up to $1,538, paid as hourly wages, for work on the SHARE project. Apprentices will be paid on a bi-weekly basis through normal payroll procedures. To earn the full $1,538 award, apprentices will need to work 90 hours over the course of the summer.
• Apprentices agree to complete reflections at the start of the apprenticeship and at the conclusion of their apprenticeship.
  
• Apprentices agree to present at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition the fall or spring following the apprenticeship.

Please note: All students hired for a SHARE virtual apprenticeship must complete a federal I-9 form and present original documents in person to OUR staff as part of the hiring process. Visit this U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services page for more information about acceptable documents. You cannot begin working until this is complete. Students are encouraged to plan ahead for this. For example, if you are going home for spring break, consider bringing documents back to campus with you.

Dates & Deadlines

Summer 2026 apprenticeship descriptions will be posted on the SHARE Virtual Summer Apprenticeship program website and applications will open to students in early March 2026.

The application deadline is Monday, March 30, 2026. Application reviews will begin after the application deadline.

Faculty may choose to interview select applicants before making decisions, but not all faculty conduct interviews. Faculty submit their apprentice selections to the OUR. The OUR will extend offers to applicants. Applicants who are not selected will be notified of their application status once the apprenticeship has been filled.

Apprentices will coordinate their summer apprenticeship start date and schedule with faculty mentors. Project work can begin once the spring semester has ended, no earlier than May 11, 2026. SHARE apprenticeships must be completed before the fall semester begins.

Apprentices will complete reflections at the start of the apprenticeship and at the conclusion of the apprenticeship. SHARE apprentices will also present at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition in the fall or spring following the apprenticeship.

Applications are submitted via the Quest Portal link found in each position description. You can apply to all the apprenticeships that align with your goals and interests.

The SHARE Summer 2026 Application Outline provides an overview of the application you will find on the Quest Portal, including the standard set of application questions that all applicants will be required to answer. Faculty may also elect to add additional questions specific to their apprenticeship. If there are additional questions, they will be noted in the apprenticeship descriptions.

You can begin your application at any point and continue working on your application until the deadline. Your content will be saved.

Please make sure to review the program eligibility requirements prior to applying. Applications from students who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be considered.

If you have questions about the SHARE Apprenticeship program or want to discuss your application, schedule an appointment with program coordinator Melissa Berkey or contact her through email at melissa.berkey@uconn.edu.

A compelling application clearly demonstrates why you are interested in the apprenticeship and how your experiences make you a strong fit. Use the strategies below to help you craft thoughtful, detailed responses.

1. Research the Faculty Mentor and Their Work

Before writing, read the apprenticeship description carefully and review the faculty mentor’s profile or bio. Take note of:

• Their research area or creative focus
• Recent projects, publications, or performances
• Key themes that interest you

Use this information to write a detailed explanation of why you want to work with them specifically.

2. Explain Your Interest in the Project

Reflect on what genuinely draws you to the research topic or creative project. You might address:

• What first sparked your curiosity
• Why the topic feels important, exciting, or personally meaningful
• How it connects to your existing academic or creative interests

Don’t be vague—be as specific as possible.

3. Highlight Relevant Coursework or Self-Directed Study

Think about classes, independent work, or experiences that helped shape your interest. For example:

• Have you taken courses related to the topic?
• Did a specific assignment or discussion inspire you?
• Have you explored the topic on your own through reading, podcasts, creative practice, or personal projects?

Explain how these experiences deepened your interest or prepared you for the apprenticeship.

4. Share Any Personal Connection (If Applicable)

If the topic relates to your own life, identity, community, or lived experiences, it can be powerful to include that. Be thoughtful and intentional—though please only share what you feel comfortable disclosing.

5. Connect the Apprenticeship to Your Goals

Help the faculty mentor understand where this experience fits into your larger journey. This might involve:

• Academic goals
• Creative or professional aspirations
• Skill-building you want to pursue
• Curiosity about whether research or creative scholarship is the right path for you

It’s okay if you don’t have long-term goals yet—many apprentices use these experiences to explore possibilities.

6. Incorporate Preferred Qualifications

Apprenticeship descriptions often list preferred skills or traits. When addressing them:

• Don’t just say you have the skill— explain how you developed it and how you’ve used it.

Examples:

• Instead of “I have strong writing skills,” write:
  “In my FYE seminar, I completed a final research essay that required synthesizing multiple sources, which improved my ability to write clearly and analyze complex ideas.”
• Instead of “I am organized,” write:
  “I manage deadlines for work, classes, and extracurriculars by using a digital planner, which has strengthened my ability to juggle multiple tasks.”

Show—not just tell.

7. Be Detailed, Genuine, and Reflective

Your goal is not to sound perfect—it’s to sound thoughtful and motivated. Faculty mentors want to understand:

• Why this project?
• Why this mentor?
• Why you?

Authenticity matters more than polished jargon.