Applicants should have demonstrable excellence in written communication. In particular, analysts must demonstrate the ability to conduct thorough and organized research, communicate their findings, and provide insight and analysis in a clear and concise manner.
Business internship in Lawrence
Student Business Analyst Program
Working as a Business Analyst
The Park hires student business analysts both for work during the school year and during the summer to complete a wide variety of projects that support the internal organization and companies located at the Park.
Because of the nature of startups and innovative research companies, the analyst program values students from different backgrounds and fields of study.
The analyst team is led by Chris Rehkamp, the Park’s director of business services.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
The student business analysts support KU Innovation Park and its resident startup companies. More than an internship, being a business analyst gives students an opportunity to work as part of a small, dynamic and professional management team to provide hands-on business development and consulting services to the Park and its resident bioscience and technology companies and startups.
Analysts work closely with Park staff, company founders and each other to solve complex and often challenging problems that materially affect real businesses. Students will have the opportunity to develop and utilize a variety of general business and consulting skills in a real-world setting while making a direct impact on the growth of the Park and its innovation-driven startups.
Analysts are given full responsibility for project deliverables that will have direct and tangible impacts on the Park and resident companies. Analysts should feel comfortable working independently under the guidance of the Park’s management team. Projects are varied, flexible, and typically ad hoc in nature, making them somewhat unpredictable.
Research specific technical, legal or strategic topics in depth
Draft reports for internal and external partners
Conduct industry and market research, competitive analysis, tech validation, etc. for startups
Prepare and/or review strategic planning documents like business plans and pitch decks
Basic financial and business modeling and analysis
Identify grant funding opportunities and help prepare applications
Present project findings, materials and recommendations to partners, clients and Park management
Collaborate with and support the Park's other analysts
Participate in staff meetings, board meetings and other Park events
Take on internal projects for the Park, like CRM management and administrative duties
Position Overview
General Qualifications & Requirements
Applicants must be creative, persistent, and highly autonomous, with a desire to learn new skills and tackle ambiguous projects. As a generalist role, Analysts are not expected to have previous experience with any particular task, and are encouraged to spend work hours developing necessary skills and knowledge to complete a project.
Applicants must be able to work approximately 12-20 hours per week during the school year and have an option to work up to 40 hours over the summer. This is an in-person position at the Park’s main facility at 2029 Becker Drive.
Analysts are responsible for managing timelines for assigned projects and must be able to manage time effectively and efficiently to meet specified deadlines, including managing multiple projects and timelines at any given time. Diligent and open communication with Park staff is critical, as analysts are encouraged to independently manage projects and client relationships increasingly over time.
Working in a startup environment requires creativity, flexibility, and intellectual curiosity. Applicants must be motivated to independently learn and build skills during the course of their work. Analysts supplement the skills or tasks that may not be a strength or daily focus of the core leadership team; therefore, the ability and confidence to independently learn and acquire skills reasonably necessary to complete projects is critical.
Due to the broad nature of the companies the Park interacts with, applicants can come from a wide variety of backgrounds and fields of study. Encouraged majors include, but are not limited to, STEM fields such as engineering or biology, computer engineering, business analytics, finance, journalism, strategic communications and pre-law fields.
KU Innovation Park is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Interested?
Stay tuned for the next hiring round in 2025.