The Undergraduate Development and Internship Research Experience (U-DAIRE) program is a nine-week summer internship designed to provide students with hands-on experience in the dairy and food production industry. This program is open to students from all majors, including those without an agricultural background who are interested in learning more about how food products are produced, processed, and marketed.

Program Details
• Dates: June 1 – August 3, 2026
• Length: 9 weeks
• Stipend: $6,500

Participants will begin the program with a two-week leadership and team-building session at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, followed by internship placements at value-added dairy enterprises. During the internship, students will gain practical experience in areas such as farm operations, product processing, packaging, and direct-to-consumer marketing.

This experience is ideal for students interested in developing skills in operations, food systems, business, leadership, and teamwork. No prior dairy experience is required—students should simply be motivated, eager to learn, and willing to work in a collaborative environment.

New for 2026: Internship locations will be available in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

Application Deadline: April 20, 2026
Notification Date: April 24, 2026

Additional information and the application can be found on the U-Daire Website.

If you have questions about the program, please feel free to contact Ahmerah Thompson at authomps@ncsu.edu

We encourage you to continue to share this opportunity with students who may be interested in gaining a unique and rewarding summer internship experience.