Google released their list of approved mentoring organizations yesterday (link).  I went to a presentation today about it and the program is really interesting.  The idea is to get students into the open source community so they can get experience and a paycheck.  Different open source programs and organizations allow you to work on an open source project and Google pays for it.  The students involved get paid $4500 in a three step process:  $500 when your approved, $2000 half way through and then the remaining $2000 at then end after the student’s mentor approves it.  They expect 40 hours a week  for their money.

I think this is an excellent opportunity and I think I’m going to mull it over.  I can do this in addition to my other job but it would be hard to work 40 hours a week this summer in the research program and work 40 hours on this.  I would be able to pull it off if I only work 30 or so hours at the NSCL without a problem. At the very least if I apply I get a free t-shirt.