Internship Program - Details

The 2011 QEM Network Summer Internship Program includes three components: Health-focused Internships for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Science policy-focused student Internships; and Science Education-focused internships for students from Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

Topics to be discussed during the summer include research and personal skills development, ethical and professional conduct, graduate school requirements, leadership, community service and outreach, networking, career opportunities, and major issues related to the health status and educational needs of underserved groups.

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QEM INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The ten-week internship includes a one-week pre-internship professional development session, a nine-week research assignment with a mentor/advisor, and a post-internship reflection session. Interns also participate in several special enrichment activities during the summer. NSF science internship assignments are related to science policy and practice; TCUP internships focus on science education and health disparities in Native American communities; and OMH health-focused internships concentrate on HIV/AIDS and other health disparities disproportionately affecting underrepresented minority groups. Projects will be designed to allow students the best opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills and transfer the internship experiences to their college studies and communities. Descriptions of actual projects are available only after students have been selected for the program. Specific research topics will be based on research interests, program resources, and the areas in which mentors/advisors are working.


The Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a feature of the Internship Program that results from joint planning for the internship experience by the student and the mentor/advisor. The IDP specifies the intern’s learning objectives as well as the training experiences and timetable required for the attainment of the objectives. Interns will be expected to prepare and present written and oral mid-term and final reports on their internship experiences. These reports are to outline the individual intern’s activities and document progress during the internship as well as explain specific details of the experience. As part of their professional development during the summer, interns receive both mid-term and final evaluations from their mentors/advisors as well as ongoing feedback from Program staff.


In addition to the ten-week summer internship, interns will be expected to implement STEM-related education and health awareness outreach activities during the academic year at their home institutions or neighboring communities upon returning to school in the fall.

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PROGRAM BENEFITS

• Stipends will be available for full-time participation for the entire ten-week program. Undergraduate students will receive taxable stipends of $3,000. Graduate students in the NSF Science Student Internship Program will receive taxable stipends of $4,000. In keeping with federal regulations, both stipends and campus housing (valued over $2,500) are taxable and FICA taxes will be deducted.
  
• One round-trip fare will be provided between home or school and Washington, DC for all interns who are not from the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
  
• Shared housing will be provided for all interns who are not from the Washington, DC metropolitan area.   The provision of housing is viewed by the IRS as income and is, therefore, taxable.

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ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

All Internship Applicants must meet each of the following eligibility conditions at the time of application:

• Be a currently enrolled student and have successfully completed at least the sophomore year (freshman year for Tribal College students) at an accredited, degree-granting institution by the start of the program .
• Be returning to a degree-granting institution the following academic year, either at the undergraduate or graduate level. (Note: Graduating seniors must be already admitted to and planning to enter graduate school in the fall in order to be eligible.)
• Have a significant interest in working to improve the mathematics and science education of minorities; and in participating in community outreach activities that are educational in nature and that involve minority students from low-income or underserved communities.
• Be committed to participating in the Program for the full ten-week period.
• Be a citizen or national of the United States. (Note: A “national of the United States” is a citizen of the United States or a native resident of a possession of the United States such as Guam or American Samoa. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who is a U.S. permanent resident. U.S. permanent residents are not eligible for Science Student Internships with placements at agencies.)

Additional eligibility requirement related to Science Student Internships at NSF:

• Must be a rising junior or senior or graduate student majoring in one of the following fields: mathematics, science (life or physical sciences, computer science, behavioral sciences, or social sciences), technology, or engineering.

Additional eligibility requirement related to Tribal College Internships at QEM:

• Must be currently enrolled in an accredited Tribal College or University, and, must have successfully completed at least the freshman year by the start of the Program.
• Must be pursuing a degree in a science- or engineering-related field.
• Must be returning to a Tribal College the following academic year except in the case of students who have completed their degree program at the Tribal College. In the latter case, such applicants must have been accepted into a four-year or graduate program that will begin in the fall.

Additional eligibility requirement related to Health-Focused Internships at QEM:

• Must be pre-med, pre-dentistry, or majoring in one of the following fields: biomedical sciences, life sciences, allied health, physical and occupational therapy, biomedical research, pharmacy, or public health.
• Must have a significant interest in raising the level of awareness about health disparities, particularly HIV/AIDS, and wellness strategies in low-income and/or underserved communities.
• Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled at an accredited Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
  
  

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APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must submit the completed application and recommendation forms, as well as the required transcript(s), essay, and resumé by mail to QEM Network in a single package, postmarked on or before the deadline date. Transcripts may be mailed separately, if necessary, but must also be postmarked by the deadline date.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 28, 2011

For more information, please contact:
QEM Network Internship Program • Tel: (202) 659-1818 • E-mail: qemnetwork@qem.org

Created and Maintained by:
The Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network
1818 N Street, NW, Suite 350  •  Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202/659-1818  •  Fax: 202/659-5408
Updated: MAY 2011
For questions or comments email us at qemnetwork@qem.org