The Science and Technology Innovation Program welcomes applicants for academic calendar internships. STIP focuses on understanding bottom-up, public innovation; top-down, policy innovation; and, on supporting responsible and equitable practices at the point where new technology and existing political, social, and cultural processes converge. We recommend exploring our blog and website first to determine if your research interests align with current STIP programming.
We offer two types of internships: research (open to law and graduate students only) and a social media and blogging internship (open to undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students). Non-degree seeking students are ineligible. All internships must be served in Washington, D.C. and cannot be done remotely.
Research Internships
For graduate students, law students, or those accepted to a graduate-level program, we offer a research internship. This is normally project-based, with current projects falling into roughly categories:
- Citizen Health Innovators
- Citizen Science
- Public Communication of Science
- Serious Games Initiative
- Synthetic Biology and Genomics
- Artificial Intelligence
Some flexibility may be available, as STIP also overlaps with other Wilson Center Programs. We encourage anyone with cross-disciplinary interests to apply, specifying the names of two programs they wish to work with.
Assignments may include:
- Conducting independent research on science and technology innovation issues relevant to STIP initiatives
- Co-authoring a journal article or Wilson Center policy brief
- Developing grant proposals
- Developing prototypes
- Writing articles and blog posts for the STIP website, in conjunction with specific projects as described above.
Social Media Internship
Open to undergraduates, recent graduates and graduate students, our social media and blogging internship is open year-round. We do not limit by specific majors, but instead look for students who are interested in engaging with issues around STEM from a multitude of perspectives, including the applications to science, policy, and the public.
Assignments may include:
- Drafting posts for our new blog, CTRL Forward
- Assisting with events and conferences
- Researching issues around biotechnology, nanotechnology, genomics, citizen science, and serious/educational video games
- Assisting the preparation of publications and/or outreach materials
- Performing administrative assignments in support of STIP activities
Applying:
To apply please email Elizabeth.Newbury@wilsoncenter.org with the following information. Please specify in the subject line the intended time period for your internship with [SEMESTER] [YEAR] Internship e.g. “SPRING 2018 Internship”
- Cover letter explaining your interest in STIP
- CV/Resume
- 1-2 page writing sample
- SPRING/SUMMER/FALL availability
As we accept internships year-round, the application is rolling. Due to the sheer volume of applications we receive, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. To ensure your consideration, please submit only a completed application.
Addendums
This internship is unpaid. Applicants should be able to commit at least 20 hours a week.
International students are eligible, but they must hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa and appropriate work authorization. All international students must obtain written permission from their Designated School Official or Responsible Visa Officer at their university stating that they are in valid immigration status and eligible to do an internship at the Center.
The Wilson Center is an equal opportunity employer and follows equal opportunity employment guidelines in the selection of its interns.
Special Internship Opportunity: Advancing Citizen and Patient-Driven Biomedical Research & Innovation
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ Science and Technology Innovation Program welcomes applicants from graduate programs (including Masters and PhD) for academic calendar internships. STIP focuses on understanding bottom-up, public innovation; top-down, policy innovation; and, on supporting responsible and equitable practices at the point where new technology and existing political, social, and cultural processes converge. We recommend exploring our blog and website to determine how your research interests align with STIP programming prior to applying.
This fall, we are seeking a research intern with a specialty in topics including precision medicine, biomedical research and innovation, and/or science policy, ethics and regulation on biomedical research to work with our Citizen Science and Health Program. Applicants with backgrounds in technology development or science and technology studies (STS) will also be considered. Experience conducting cross and trans-disciplinary research is an asset.
STIP interns advance a specific research project, while also providing general intellectual and logistical support.
The project associated with this internship will relate to analyzing key challenges and promises arising in the domain of citizen and patient-driven biomedical research and innovation, including interesting trends in precision medicine. The intern may:
- Help curate the Citizen Health Innovators Map and community, data-mining and reaching out to innovators and experts.
- Co-author analyses on challenges and promises in citizen and patient-driven biomedical research and innovation
- Conduct research and/or capacity building to support the mission of the Citizen Health Innovators Project, for example by advancing work in mapping citizen and patient-driven innovation and matching these trends with tech skills and regulatory expertise
- There will be opportunities to write and gain expertise – this is part of the internship goals.
Support operations may include:
- Conducting independent research on science and technology innovation issues relevant to STIP initiatives, as requested by supervisor.
- Co-authoring a journal article or Wilson Center policy brief.
- Developing grant proposals.
- Writing articles and blog posts for the STIP website, in conjunction with specific projects as described above.
Desired skills include:
- Familiarity with precision medicine, biomedical research and innovation, and/or science policy, ethics and regulation on biomedical research
- Familiarity with national regulation and guidelines on precision medicine in USA
- Ability to write for multiple audiences (academic publications, white papers, social media, etc.)
- Ability to work independently with minimal day-to-day guidance.
This internship is paid. Applicants should be able to commit 20 hours a week to this position.
International students are eligible, but they must hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa and appropriate work authorization. All international students must obtain written permission from their Designated School Official or Responsible Visa Officer at their university stating that they are in valid immigration status and eligible to do an internship at the Center.
The Wilson Center is an equal opportunity employer and follows equal opportunity employment guidelines in the selection of its interns.
To apply please email Elizabeth.Newbury@wilsoncenter.org with the following information. Please specify in the subject line the intended time period for your internship with [SEMESTER] [YEAR] Internship e.g. “FALL 2017 Internship”
