The GATE Institute at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” has announced the opening of applications for its summer internship program NEXT GATE TALENTS 2026. The program is aimed at students and young professionals with an interest in big data, artificial intelligence, and innovative technological solutions.
The three-month paid internship will begin on July 1, 2026, and will provide participants with the opportunity to gain practical experience by working on real research and applied projects alongside leading scientists and experts from GATE. The program combines education, research, and innovation in an interdisciplinary environment and provides access to the institute’s high-tech infrastructure.
“NEXT GATE TALENTS 2026 is an opportunity for young people to get involved in developing innovative solutions at the very beginning of their professional journey. Working on real projects in the field of artificial intelligence and big data, in a team with leading scientists and experts, provides invaluable practical experience and confidence for future development. We are glad to support the next generation of specialists who will shape the technological future of Bulgaria and Europe,” notes Prof. Dr. Silvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute.
The program is primarily aimed at third- and fourth-year university students, master’s students, and recent graduates in STEM fields. Applicants can choose among five tracks:
• Reliable Computational Modelling – development of frameworks for thermo-fluid simulations and work on projects with business partners;• Machine Learning and AI – tasks related to energy efficiency, large language models, and graph neural networks;• “Cities of the Future” – participation in internal and European projects focused on smart and sustainable urban solutions;• Big Data Engineering – work with technologies for processing and managing large data sets;• “Information Environment Analysis” – projects in natural language processing, large language model security, and analysis of public information.
Interns will receive mentorship from researchers and experts, as well as the opportunity to participate in international and national projects. Successfully performing participants will have the opportunity for long-term professional development at GATE.
Applications are open until June 20, 2026. Applicants are required to send a CV and a short motivation letter to *protected email*. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview.
The program is designed for motivated young people who want to actively contribute to the development of science and technology and to further enhance their knowledge in a professional research environment.