Graduate Student Earns Internship with PayPal in Arizona

Aaryan R. Londhe, a graduate student at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA), is pursuing a degree in Computer and Information Science with a concentration in Cyber Security. This summer, he will be interning with PayPal in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he’ll spend three months working as an anti-phishing intern in a position focused on email security and phishing detection. He discovered the opportunity on LinkedIn and shared, “I found it interesting, because this specific position doesn’t usually get posted.”

Londhe discovered his passion for information technology at a young age, and it has continued to grow ever since. At USCA, he currently serves as a Senior Security Operations Analyst and works as a dean’s assistant in the College of Science and Engineering, where he contributes to strategic planning and helps develop the university's research website. He also holds the role of Living and Residential Assistant (LRA), a specialized mentorship position supporting students with intellectual disabilities in the USCA Life Program.

At PayPal, Londhe will focus on identifying phishing attacks using specialized software while also training employees to recognize and respond to malicious emails. In addition, he will work on a project analyzing recent phishing incidents and creating strategies to help non-IT users better detect and prevent similar threats in the future.

Before moving to the United States, Londhe completed a summer internship in India with SecureU, a startup company, where he worked as a Business Development Executive Intern. He also gained valuable experience working part-time as a Digital Marketing and IT Specialist.

When it comes to job hunting, Londhe advises applicants “to stay consistent, have a plan daily, and make sure to study the job descriptions well, instead of skimming through them, and make sure it’s relevant to you.” He also emphasizes the value of internships as learning experiences, adding that interns aren’t expected to know everything but should rely on mentors and colleagues to grow and reach their goals.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.