Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) is a summer internship program in Germany for undergraduate students from the United States, Canada and the UK in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences and engineering. RISE offers unique opportunities for Bachelor students from North American, British and Irish universities the opportunity to work with research groups at universities and top research institutions across Germany for a period of 2 to 3 months during the summer. RISE interns are matched with doctoral students whom they assist and who serve as their mentors. This program is coordinated under the German Academic Exchange Service.
Applicants are not required to have German language experience, though some exposure or basic German skills can be helpful. The working language will be in English. This is a very competitive, in program and about 300 scholarships are available. For more information check out the DAAD RISE website.
Because this program/award is very competitive, we suggest you begin the application process early.
Pitt's application requirements include:
- Student in good standing- no disciplinary record
- Minimum 3.25 GPA
- Have well-defined study, research or internship plans for your stay in Germany
- Students that have completed at least 4 semesters of university-level academics are encouraged to apply.
- Please review providers website for more requirements
DAAD offers the following regarding the DAAD RISE program for 2023: As of now, we expect the RISE programs to resume as planned in 2023. The pandemic continues to develop dynamically in many countries. Under certain conditions RISE internships could take place virtually, too. Please refer to the DAAD site for more information.
Costs: The DAAD website has information on funding amounts provided for recipients of the award. Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. Visit our Budgeting page for more information.
You should apply to both the Pitt online application on this website (including providing the listed required documents) AND complete the separate RISE application on that website. You must work concurrently on the internal Pitt application that you create at www.globalexperiences.pitt.edu and on your program provider’s application through their respective websites. You can’t move forward without completing both applications by the respective deadlines.
Chandra Colaresi

Hi! My name is Chandra, and I am a Global and Engineering Professional Development Consultant in the Swanson School of Engineering. My professional background is in communications and policy, but I have been lucky enough to study or work in England, Scotland, France, and Belgium. Please contact me if you are interested in global research, co-op, or internship opportunities as well as the Global Supply Networks program. Let’s discuss all the exciting options you have to see the world during your time at Pitt!
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- Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
- Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
- Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
- Select Study Abroad Virtual Advising as the Location
- Select Study Abroad Program Specific Questions as the service
- Select my name and find a time that works for you!
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Dr. Dave Fraser

Dave Fraser advises and supports Pitt Honors College students as well as any other Pitt student pursuing national or international awards and scholarships. He focuses on support for students with interests in STEM fields but is always open to working with students from other disciplines.
Dave was born in Boston Massachusetts but has also lived for significant parts of his life in Egypt, Puerto Rico, Madrid, Chicago, D.C., and (of course) Pittsburgh. He is an avid traveler and fan of cross-cultural experiences and learning. He was a Biology and Neuroscience professor for 10 years before joining the Honors College in 2019.
Dave lives in Highland Park with his wife and daughter. His weekends focus on family, music, food, house repair, and coaxing flowers from his growing (literally) collection of native (mostly) plants in his garden.
Schedule an appointment
Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!
Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!
Lesha Greene

Lesha Greene hails from the Caribbean island of St. Kitts and Nevis, population: 55,000. She provides individualized mentoring and support to Frederick Honors College students and offers guidance to all Pitt students interested in applying for national and international awards.
Before coming to Pitt and Pittsburgh, Lesha lived in New York City and worked at the Open Society Foundations (OSF), a large, international non-governmental organization. During her 15-year tenure at OSF, Lesha worked on developing and managing international scholarship programs for students and faculty from Africa, Asia, The Middle East, Eurasia, Southeast Asia and Latin America. These programs aimed to build human capacity within a variety of subject areas, support civil society and community development, or, improve the pedagogy of local faculty.
She is fluent in toddler-speak and enjoys jigsaw puzzles and real estate. She is extremely competitive when it comes to bar trivia and Monopoly. She is working on finishing a novella.
Schedule an appointment
Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!
Make an appointment
Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!