ICP Summer Internship 2025
Program Overview
Innovation Central Perth (ICP) Summer Program is a full-time, 10-week internship where high-achieving Curtin University students spend 4-5 days per week to design, build and validate solutions at pace. Guided by academics and Cisco mentors, interns gain the opportunity to work on real-world industry projects through ICP’s strong partnerships.
The program provides hands-on experience, enabling students to apply their skills and knowledge to practical challenges while collaborating closely with industry professionals.
How to Apply
Below is a list of currently available projects. If you are interested in applying, please email us at innovationcentral@curtin.edu.au with the following details:
– Full Name
– Current degree and year of study
– CV (resume)
– A short cover letter (200-300 words) explaining your interest in the project and how your skills align with its objectives
We encourage all eligible students to apply, regardless of prior experience. This is a great opportunity to build industry connections and work on meaningful projects that contribute to your future careers.
Note: While we encourage you to indicate your project preferences in your application, please note that you are applying to the program as a whole, not a specific project. Due to high demand and limited availability, we cannot guarantee your preferred project. In some cases, you may be allocated to a different project that our technical team considers a stronger match for your skills and experiences.
Key Dates
22 September 2025 – Student applications open
10 October 2025 – Student applications close
20 – 24 October 2025 – Student interviews
24 October 2025 – Notify candidates
17 November 2025 – Internships begins
– 22 December 2025 – Curtin University Closed –
– 5 January 2026 – Curtin University Reopen –
3 February 2026 – Final intern conference
Available Summer Internship Projects
Below are the projects currently available for the Summer Internship. Additional projects will be added as they are confirmed, so keep an eye on this page for updates.
Project EchoCluster: A Tool for Bulk Audio Labelling
Vanguard Technologies
Project overview Skills requirements:
ICP has previously developed a successful audio classifier using a CNN on sound spectrograms. A challenge in scaling and improving such models is the slow, manual and expensive process of labelling the audio data required for training. This project aims to create an internal tool that leverages ML to assist the human labeller, accelerating the workflow and enabling the development of more robust and data-rich AI models. It will process raw audio, convert sounds to spectrograms and use unsupervised clustering to present these groups to a user for efficient, bulk labelling.
Essential Skills
• Strong proficiency in Python programming.
• Experience with core data science libraries (NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn).
• Solid theoretical understanding of fundamental ML concepts, including unsupervised clustering.
Desirable Skills
• Experience with audio processing libraries (librosa).
• Familiarity with a deep learning framework like PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Experience building simple UIs with frameworks like Streamlit, Gradio or Tkinter.
• Knowledge of image processing techniques.
Shopper Traffic Monitoring System
ICP Internal Project
Project overview
This project builds upon an existing machine vision-based shopper traffic monitoring system across retail environments. This project aims to transform the raw traffic data into sophisticated business intelligence tools that enable data-driven decision making for supermarket operations, staff optimisation and strategic planning.
Skills requirements:
Essential Skills
• Python with experience in data analysis libraries (Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn) and visualisation tools (Plotly, Dash or similar).
• Solid understanding of database systems, SQL and data. warehousing concepts for handling large-scale retail analytics data.
• Web development frameworks (Flask, Django or FastAPI).
• Statistical analysis, data mining techniques and basic ML concepts for predictive modelling.
Desirable Skills
• Experience with Business Intelligence tools (Tableau, Power BI, etc) and dashboard design principles.
• Knowledge of time series analysis, forecasting methods and retail analytics domain expertise.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerisation technologies for scalable deployment.
Developing a Resilient LoRa Mesh Network for Remote Sensor Data Transmission
Curtin University | The Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program (MRAMP)
Project overview
The MRAMP relies on a network of Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) stations to protect vital cultural heritage. Data continuity is essential but the stations’ remote locations mean their primary 4G connection can be unreliable. This project focuses on engineering a backup communication system to guarantee data is received even during network outages.
Skills requirements:
Essential Skills
• Proficiency in programming for embedded systems (C/C++ for Arduino/ESP32 or Python for Raspberry Pi)
• Solid understanding of fundamental computer networking principles (OSI model, routing, etc)
• Experience with micro-controllers or single-board computers
• Statistical analysis, data mining techniques and basic ML concepts for predictive modelling
Desirable Skills
• Direct experience with LoRa or other wireless modules (Zigbee, XBee, etc)
• Basic knowledge of RF (Radio Frequency) principles
• Circuit prototyping skills (breadboarding, soldering, etc)
Predictive Maintenance Modelling for Remote Air Quality Monitoring Stations
Curtin University | The Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program (MRAMP)
Project overview
To monitor the long-term health of the rock art, MRAMP has deployed a network of sophisticated Air Quality Monitoring (AQM) stations across the remote and harsh landscape of the Burrup Peninsula. This project seeks to use stations’ own data feed to predict component failures before they happen, enabling a shift to proactive and efficient maintenance.
Skills requirements:
Essential Skills
• Proficiency in Python and data science libraries (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, etc).
• Solid understanding of statistical methods and time-series analysis.
• Experience with data cleaning, feature engineering and model validation techniques.
Desirable Skills
• Experience with specific time-series forecasting models (ARIMA, Prophet, etc) or sequence models (LSTMs in TensorFlow/PyTorch).
• Familiarity with anomaly detection algorithms.
• Understanding of IoT systems and sensor technology.
Smart Voice Commanded Pick and Place Robot
ICP Internal Project
Project overview
Individuals with severe mobility impairments face significant challenges in performing everyday tasks, such as picking up a dropped item, fetching medication or grabbing a drink of water. This project aims to conceptualise, develop and test a software and hardware implementation for an intelligent, voice-controlled, pick-and-place robot.
Skills requirements:
Essential Skills
• Strong programming proficiency in Python.
• Solid experience with the Linux operating system and command-line interface.
• A foundational understanding or robotics concepts (Coordinate frames, kinematics, etc).
• A strong, demonstrable interest and willingness to learn the Robot Operating System (ROS 2).
Desirable Skills
• Practical experience with ML (TensorFlow/PyTorch, etc) and Computer Vision libraries (OpenCV).
• Experience with embedded systems development (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, etc).
• Familiarity with C++ for performance-critical ROS 2 nodes.
• Previous experience with 3D cameras, point clouds or robotic motion planning (Movelt).
Beat the Bomb: Multi-Kit Web Control & Hardware Integration
Adventure Out Australia
Project overview Skills requirements:
The “Beat the Bomb” system is a team-building game that has undergone several modernisation phases. This next phase aims to scale the system for real-world use and fully implement the interactive features of the system.
Essential Skills
• Strong programming proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems (Arduino/ESP-IDF framework).
• Solid Python programming skills, with some experience in web application development (Streamlit, Flask, Django, etc).
• A firm understanding of electronics and practical experience interfacing sensors and actuators with micro-controllers.
• Good knowledge of fundamental networking concepts (TCP/IP, HTTP requests, JSON).
Desirable Skills
• Direct experience with the ESP32 platform, particularly its web server and Wi-Fi capabilities.
• Experience in designing user interfaces (UI/UX principles).
• Familiarity with version control systems, particularly Git.
• Experience or interest in asynchronous programming for handling multiple network clients.
Automated Bird Identification from Wind Turbine Imagery
Aeolius Wind Systems
Project overview Skills requirements:
Aeolius Wind Systems collaborates with wind farms to explore innovative methods to monitor the interaction between wind turbines and local wildlife. This project leverages existing camera infrastructure on wind turbines to gather crucial data on bird populations, contributing to safer turbine operations and informing conservation policies.
Essential Skills
• Strong programming skills in Python, including experience with libraries like Pandas, NumPy and Pillow/OpenCV, Yolo.
• Solid theoretical understanding of ML concepts, particularly supervised learning and neural networks.
Desirable Skills
• Practical experience with deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Familiarity with computer vision techniques and libraries.
• Previous experience working with large image datasets.
3D Asset Tracking for Lab Equipment
ICP Internal Project
Project overview Skills requirements:
This project will explore Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology to build a scalable indoor positioning system, providing a foundation for future automation and safety projects within the lab. There is a need for a highly accurate and reliable system to track the 3D position of specific assets within the ICP Living Lab, where GPS is unavailable. To address this, the project will develop a Proof of Concept (POC) system using ESP32 microcontrollers to demonstrate the feasibility of creating a cost-effective Real-Time Location System (RTLS).
Essential Skills
• Proficient in C/C++ programming for embedded systems (Arduino, ESP-IDF).
• Experience with micro-controllers and interfacing with hardware modules via protocols like SPI or UART.
• Solid understanding of data structures and algorithms.
Desirable Skills
• Experience with IoT communication protocols like MQTT or WebSockets.
• Familiarity with Python for data processing or visualisation.
• An understanding of basic geometry, trigonometry or linear algebra for positioning calculations.
• Previous experience with RF or wireless communication technologies.
IoT Network for Early Detection of Harmful Algal Blooms
Innovation Central Perth and Adelaide
Project overview Skills requirements:
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) pose a significant environmental and economic threat to waterways, such as those in Adelaide. There is a critical need for an affordable and scalable early warning system for HABs. The high cost of current scientific instruments prevents widespread, dense deployment, limiting real-time monitoring. This project will investigate the feasibility of using low-cost, commodity hardware (LEDs and photodetectors) to detect chlorophyll-a concentrations as a proxy for algal blooms, providing a rapid indicator for further scientific investigation.
Essential Skills
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ for embedded systems (Arduino, ESP-IDF).
• Fundamental knowledge of electronics, including circuit design and prototyping.
• Experience with microcontrollers and interfacing with sensors.
Desirable Skills
• Experience with IoT communication protocols (Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN, MQTT).
• Knowledge of optical sensing principles.
• 3D modelling and printing skills for creating a waterproof enclosure.
• Dat analysis skills in a language like Python.
