Analysts draft reports, memos, and correspondence for direct communication with Park’s executive leadership and Board of Directors, C-suit executives of prominent corporations, local and state government leaders, and individuals at the highest levels of KU’s leadership. Writing skills are essential in communicating research and analysis findings effectively.
Business internship in Lawrence
Student Business Analyst Program
Our Mission at KU Innovation Park
Formed from a partnership between the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Kansas, KU Innovation Park’s mission is to create high-paying jobs in Lawrence and build a more resilient Kansas economy.
The Park can provide economic development through the support of innovative early-stage bioscience and technology companies and innovation-driven private industry firms and government agencies seeking better access to University research assets, resources, and talent.
Working as a Business Analyst
The Park hires student business analysts on a rolling basis 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 can take students from different backgrounds and fields of study.
Analyst Program Objectives
Provide value to the Park and its client companies.
Analysts are critical members of the professional staff and provide hands-on business development and consulting services to support the Park’s resident companies and entrepreneurs.
Develop professional analyst skills through problem-solving and real-world experiences.
Analysts work closely with Park staff, company founders, and each other to solve complex and often challenging problems that materially affect real businesses. Analysts will have the opportunity to develop and utilize a variety of general business and consulting skills in a real-world setting while directly impacting the growth of the Park and its innovation-driven startups.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Business Analyst program enables KU students to provide business development and consulting services to the Park itself and the Park’s resident technology and bioscience startups and companies.
Analysts are given full responsibility for project deliverables that will have direct and tangible impacts on the Park and resident companies. Analysts work closely with Park staff, company founders, and each other to solve complex and challenging problems. 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.
Typical Analyst Program Projects:
Analyst projects can have a great variety depending on the analyst role and the needs of The Park.
Researching specific technical, legal, or strategic topics in great depth and drafting reports for internal and external stakeholders.
General research and analysis to support the day-to-day operations of The Park.
Assisting prospective tenants and startups by providing market assessments, building business plans, and evaluating commercialization strategies.
Position Overview
General Qualifications & Requirements
Availability to work at the Park’s main facility approximately 15 hours per week during the school year and 20-40 hours per week during the summer.
To succeed in this position, analysts must be creative, persistent, and highly autonomous self-starters, comfortable with ambiguity, and enjoy solving challenging and complex problems with no obvious path or outcome.
Analysts are critical members of the organization and should expect to participate in operational and strategic meetings, board meetings, and Park/stakeholders events when reasonably practical.
The Park hires analysts in the spring for a summer start date, though we review applications on a rolling basis, and occasionally offers are extended throughout the year. We strongly encourage interested candidates to visit the Park for a tour of the facilities and operations.
The analyst position is not limited to one field of study. Analysts come from but are not limited to, majors ranging from business to engineering to journalism.
