Internship: Research Intern – Denver

Job Description

Internship: Research Intern – Denver

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Department: Department of Transportation

Division: Chief Engineer’s Office

Job Details

• Salary: $19.16 – $26.77/hour depending on qualifications.
• Location: Denver, CO
• Job Type: Temporary (9 months or less)
• Job Number: HAA Research Intern – 02/26
• Opening Date: 03/02/2026
• Closing Date: 3/16/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Primary Physical Work Address: 2829 W, Howard Pl, Denver, CO 80204
• Type of Announcement: This is a temporary position. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
• Department Contact Information: Lynn Livingston, LynnR.Livingston@state.co.us 303-757-9110

About CDOT

Do you want to make a difference in Coloradans’ lives? Do you have a passion for helping people and keeping them safe? At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), you’ll have the opportunity to do just that. The work our people do contributes to keeping Coloradans and visitors safe and provides freedom, connection, and experience through travel. CDOT is committed to creating a supportive workplace where everyone, regardless of identity, has the opportunity to thrive.

Description of Job

About The Work Unit

The Research Intern works in the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT’s) Office of Applied Research. The mission of the Office of Applied Research is to save lives, save Colorado citizens time and money, and preserve the environment through research and development activities. This includes the development and implementation of innovative methods, products, and materials in transportation, as well as developing actionable knowledge for policy development.

About The Position

The Research Branch is seeking an intern to provide information management and tool development utilizing the appropriate technology and resources. This position will dive into the real-world challenges of managing the flow of research results and requests that flow to CDOT.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Information Management and Strategy

• Investigate the Distribution of Research Knowledge including mapping the flow of high-value knowledge, including National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Reports, University Transportation Center (UTC) results, and national consortium proposals—from entrance to the Department through their path to the right decision-makers.
• Analyze Collaboration Networks including working with CDOT staff to learn how to identify internal subject matter experts and how to expand collaborations.
• Identify Barriers in Knowledge Processes: Transform “information overload” into a streamlined pipeline by identifying bottlenecks in how we receive and process surveys, webinar announcements, and research project proposals.

Tool Development and Change Management

• Own the continuing development and deployment of an internal application using Google tools (AppSheet, Apps Script, Vertex AI, BigQuery).
• Scale and improve a system to ingest research sources and intelligently match them with internal experts.
• Test, refine, and document the tool for long-term sustainability.
• Apply design thinking and change management principles to ensure the application isn’t just built, but actually adopted.
• Facilitate stakeholder feedback to refine the user experience and scaling strategy.
• Explore high-impact extensions of the application, such as evolving it into a dynamic directory of organizational skills, roles, and professional interests.

Other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• This position is based at CDOT’s Statewide Headquarters Complex located at 2829 W. Howard Place, Denver, CO 80204.
• Expected hybrid office/home work schedule Monday – Friday with Mondays and Tuesdays in the office.
• It is anticipated that this role will work 24 – 40 hours per week with a minimum of 24 hours per week.

Benefits

In addition to being a fantastic place to work, CDOT offers all temporary employees paid sick leave. Temporary employees accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, capped at 48 hours.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Qualified Candidates must Be Either:

• A recent college graduate. Recently graduated means you should have attended an accredited college or university and have graduated with an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree in information science, computer science, engineering or a related technical field within the past three calendar years.

OR

• Any college student enrolled in a U.S. accredited community college, college, or university seeking an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree in information science, computer science, engineering or a related technical field.

OR

• A certified participant in the Colorado Refugee Services Program.

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or an official foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show your name, the name of the school, completed credit hours, and (if applicable) current enrollment or that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have been assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. The credential evaluation report must be an official report. Failure to provide a transcript or official foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected.

Conditions Of Employment

Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks.

Preferred Qualifications

The Exceptional Candidate will be an undergraduate or graduate college/university student, or recent graduate as defined above and the following:

• Strong interest in the duties listed in the Description of the Job section.
• Completion of 2 years or more from an accredited university in a technical field such as engineering, computer science, or information sciences, or a related technical discipline.
• Google Workspace Power User: Experience (or strong interest) in AppSheet and Google Apps Script (JavaScript-based) to automate workflows.
• Data Literacy: Familiarity with SQL or BigQuery for data management and an understanding of how to prompt/utilize Generative AI (like Vertex AI) for text analysis.
• Process Mapping: Ability to visualize complex information flows and identify where a process is “breaking.”
• Technical Writing: Ability to translate complex technical workflows into simple, “how-to” documentation for non-technical users.
• Design Thinking Mindset: A focus on “User Experience”—asking why and how people will use a tool before building it.
• Change Management: Interest in the “human side” of technology—how to encourage people to adopt new habits and tools.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable interviewing internal stakeholders to gather requirements and presenting progress to leadership.
• Ability to manage a “product roadmap” independently and prioritize features based on user feedback.
• Ability to perform duties with minimal supervision.
• Familiarity with the Microsoft Office suite, Google mail (“Gmail”).

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Applicant Checklist

Complete Applications Must Include The Following Documents:

• A complete CDOT Application for Announced Vacancy (please submit online using the green ‘APPLY’ button at the top of this announcement)
• A complete Supplemental Questionnaire (The questionnaire is part of the online application. You will be prompted to answer them as you are completing your online application.)
• A cover letter that describes your interest in this position, how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position. Cover letters must be uploaded as an attachment to your online application. Cover letters will not be accepted after the closing date and time of the announcement.
• Unless you are applying as certified participant in the Colorado Refugee Services Program, a copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing your name, the name of the school, completed credit hours, and (if applicable) current enrollment or that a degree was conferred. If your education is from outside of the U.S., we need your NACES report showing U.S. equivalency. Please submit this as an attachment to your online application.

Please note that you may redact information on your attachments that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement may result in your application being rejected.

Supplemental Information

• Notifications: All correspondence regarding your status will be via email. Ensure your email accepts messages from “state.co.us” and “info@governmentjobs.com”.
• Employment Screening: If an applicant reaches the finalist stage, CDOT may procure a consumer report and/or investigative consumer report. This includes criminal records, public court records, educational records, and driving records checks.
• ADAAA Accommodations: CDOT is committed to full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact Lynn Livingston at LynnR.Livingston@state.co.us or 303-757-9110.
• Former State Employees: Former employees of the Colorado Department of Transportation System or any other State of Colorado Department or Agency, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information on his/her application.