STTAR interns aid innovation at North Dakota tech companies

This summer, ND EPSCoR’s STTAR (Students in Technology Transfer and Research) program enabled students to make meaningful contributions to cutting-edge research and development projects across the state. Fourteen North Dakota companies welcomed a total of 29 interns, who not only supported daily operations but also accelerated innovation and strengthened strategic initiatives.

Here are highlights from two featured companies.

Aethero Inc.

Aethero Inc., based in Grand Forks, specializes in aerial thermography and advanced data analytics for infrastructure monitoring.

STTAR intern Ajan Meenakshisundaram, a Ph.D. candidate in Energy Engineering at the University of North Dakota, played a pivotal role in transforming Aethero’s data analysis workflow. His internship was structured in three phases: manual data analysis, automation and UI development, and academic research.

In the first phase, Ajan processed aerial imagery to detect thermal anomalies in critical infrastructure. He converted RGB images into thermal formats, identified overheating or structural issues, and compiled detailed client-facing reports. This foundational work gave him deep insight into Aethero’s operational needs.

Building on this experience, Ajan developed a Python-based application with a user-friendly interface to automate the reporting process. The tool could automatically pair RGB and thermal images, annotate anomalies, and generate reports, dramatically reducing turnaround time and improving consistency.

In the final phase, Ajan contributed to a scientific journal paper. He documented Aethero’s data acquisition workflow, conducted thermodynamic analysis to estimate heat transfer coefficients, and interpreted results to support the company’s methodologies. This academic engagement demonstrated the scientific rigor behind Aethero’s work and strengthened its credibility in the research community.

Ajan described his internship at Aethero as “an enriching experience that provided a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and business aspects of data analysis and software development.”

Elinor Coatings

Elinor Coatings, headquartered in Fargo, develops advanced anti-corrosion coatings for aerospace, defense, and marine applications.

At Elinor Coatings, interns and NDSU students Cadence Brink, Spencer Brown, and Tristan Hastings joined a team of chemists and research scientists working on long-term federal projects. The interns’ work directly improved the timeline for analyzing and testing new coating prototypes, a critical step in product development.

One of the most notable achievements was the interns’ role in helping to launch the company’s new Aurora extreme weather testing facility, which performs ASTM laboratory and outdoor exposure testing for materials needing to withstand severe weather conditions. The students helped organize and set up lab processes, laying the groundwork for future testing and validation efforts. Their contributions were technical as well as organizational, helping streamline workflows in a high-stakes research environment.

Megan Fillmore, Controller at Elinor Coatings, said the interns were “an extremely valuable asset” over the summer and praised the interns’ enthusiasm and professionalism. “These three went above and beyond expectations, showcasing their talent, knowledge, and abilities in a lab environment. They were eager to learn and provided feedback that helps us improve our internship program.”

A bright future for North Dakota’s STEM talent

ND EPSCoR’s STTAR program continues to build bridges between academia and industry, offering students hands-on experience while helping local companies innovate. As the program’s continued success demonstrates, when students are given meaningful internship opportunities, they don’t just learn--they contribute.