Semester Long Research Internship

Question

I'm a non-US Computer Science Student enrolled in a bachelor's + master's integrated program at a top institute in Asia. I wanted to do a semester-long in-person research internship in the Fall of 2022 semester (I'll be a senior then) under a prof in the USA whose interests align with mine. I'll be starting to mail such professors soon. However, I would like it if all my basic expenses (travel + stay) are fully-funded because I cannot afford them as a student. I do not have any letters of recommendation since I've never done significant research before.

I have an average GPA but a SWE internship at Google, which is a totally different experience (I'm going to do a similar internship next summer, should I mention it?). What would a professor look for in prospective students?

I have a winter break, and I'm planning to carefully read about professors' work and write good personalized e-mails. Is there anything else I can do to strengthen my application?

I'm not eligible for REU (also I think it's only summer) since I'm not a US resident or citizen. Do professors fund students from their allotted funds? I've come to know that some universities treat such students as Visiting Research Students and fund them as student researchers (professors don't have to fund them) if a Professor invites them. I'll be aiming at those first.

I cannot find anything when I search for "long research internships," is there a different term for this?

Answer 1

This seems nearly impossible to me. Sorry. If you were a very top student with research experience already in hand and with great letters of recommendation available it would be easier, but still extremely difficult.

Most funding is for teaching assistants, who are in doctoral study at the given institutions. There is some research money available, mostly through grants to professors, but, again, the preferred assistants are those professor's doctoral students. Funding for an outside student, even a US resident, would depend on special skills that could be immediately applied to an existing project.

I don't suggest it is completely impossible, but suspect that the number of possible positions is very small and are very competitive and selective.

You might be better off finishing your degree(s) and then applying for doctoral study in US. A TA, would then cover both educational and (modest) living expenses.

I'd think that funding from institution in your home country would probably be much more likely than what you suggest. Perhaps the company you mention would offer some help.