Getting a Summer Getting a Summer Research, Industrial or Research, Industrial or Non-profit InternshipNon-profit Internship
Dr. Sumana DattaDr. Sumana DattaAssistant Dean of Undergraduate Assistant Dean of Undergraduate
ResearchResearchTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University
Why do an internship or Why do an internship or research? -- Practical Goals.research? -- Practical Goals.• Learn material in your major by hands-on Learn material in your major by hands-on
work outside the classroom.work outside the classroom.• Develop a one-on-one mentoring Develop a one-on-one mentoring
relationship with a professor.relationship with a professor.• Find out what you like and don’t like to do.Find out what you like and don’t like to do.• Improve your resume.Improve your resume.• Get more informative letters of Get more informative letters of
recommendation for jobs, graduate or recommendation for jobs, graduate or professional school applications.professional school applications.
• Find out more about what being a Find out more about what being a professional in your area is like.professional in your area is like.
Research versus InternshipResearch versus Internship
• Can be virtually interchangeable.Can be virtually interchangeable.
• Internship generally refers to experience Internship generally refers to experience in corporate or non-profit setting.in corporate or non-profit setting.
• But you can do research at a company But you can do research at a company or non-profit as well!or non-profit as well!
• Research=analysis=exploration=R&DResearch=analysis=exploration=R&D
• Either way, you are looking for hands-on Either way, you are looking for hands-on experience in your field!experience in your field!
Why do research/internship? -- Why do research/internship? -- Improve your skills.Improve your skills.
• Learn how to work in teams to Learn how to work in teams to accomplish a goal.accomplish a goal.
• Learn how to explain and defend Learn how to explain and defend your results.your results.
• Learn advanced technical skills.Learn advanced technical skills.
• Learn better problem solving skills.Learn better problem solving skills.
• Learn better time-management skills.Learn better time-management skills.
Why do research/internship-- Why do research/internship-- General BenefitsGeneral Benefits
• More likely to stay enrolled and to More likely to stay enrolled and to graduate.graduate.
• Better integrated socially and academically Better integrated socially and academically into academic life.into academic life.
• More likely to be able to continue education More likely to be able to continue education in professional or graduate programs.in professional or graduate programs.
• Greater satisfaction with undergraduate Greater satisfaction with undergraduate experience.experience.
• More confidence in abilities.More confidence in abilities.• Develop a deeper understanding of Develop a deeper understanding of
field/major.field/major.
Why Summer Why Summer Research/Internship?Research/Internship?• Concentrate on your research full-time.Concentrate on your research full-time.
• Meet and work with researchers at other Meet and work with researchers at other institutions.institutions.
• Try something completely different that Try something completely different that might depend on geography/location.might depend on geography/location.
• Develop additional contacts for jobs, Develop additional contacts for jobs, professional or graduate school.professional or graduate school.
• Live and explore somewhere else for a Live and explore somewhere else for a summer.summer.
• ““Test” a place you might want to go after Test” a place you might want to go after graduation.graduation.
First questions to ask First questions to ask yourself:yourself:
What do you want to do?What do you want to do?
Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?
Is there something you would never want to do?Is there something you would never want to do?
Is there someplace you would never want to go?Is there someplace you would never want to go?
What types of programs are What types of programs are available?available?
• ArtsArts• Social SciencesSocial Sciences• HumanitiesHumanities• BusinessBusiness• PublishingPublishing• EntertainmentEntertainment• Human ResourcesHuman Resources• Medical/Medical/
HumanitarianHumanitarian
• CollegesColleges• UniversitiesUniversities• GovernmentGovernment• Non-profitsNon-profits• Research Research
CentersCenters• HospitalsHospitals• MuseumsMuseums• CompaniesCompanies• NationalNational• InternationalInternational
Humanities and Social Humanities and Social ScienceScienceSOMESOME of the areas are: of the areas are:• Political sciencePolitical science• EconomicsEconomics• PsychologyPsychology• SociologySociology• LawLaw• Cultural anthropologyCultural anthropology• Criminal justiceCriminal justice• EnglishEnglish• HistoryHistory• Art and art historyArt and art history• EthnomusicologyEthnomusicology• Television productionTelevision production
Humanities and Social Humanities and Social ScienceScienceSomeSome of the places you can go are: of the places you can go are:
• University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.• Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.• NYU, New York, New York.NYU, New York, New York.• UCLA, Los Angeles, CaliforniaUCLA, Los Angeles, California• Stanford University, Palo Alto, CaliforniaStanford University, Palo Alto, California• Columbia University, New York, New York.Columbia University, New York, New York.• Harvard University, Cambridge, MassachusettsHarvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts• University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.
What do What do mostmost (but not all) (but not all) summer research programs summer research programs provide?provide?
• Place to livePlace to live
• Food Food
• Stipend, generally about $4000Stipend, generally about $4000
• Enrichment experiences-seminars, Enrichment experiences-seminars, workshops, tours, field trips.workshops, tours, field trips.
• Research internship of about 10 Research internship of about 10 weeks.weeks.
Be sure to ask about:Be sure to ask about:
• How they match you to a project or research How they match you to a project or research advisor.advisor.
• Health insurance/medical requirements.Health insurance/medical requirements.• Help with travel costs to and from the site.Help with travel costs to and from the site.• Start and end dates.Start and end dates.• Transportation and safety around the site Transportation and safety around the site
late at night or on weekends.late at night or on weekends.• Availability of peer mentors.Availability of peer mentors.• Whether you will need to enroll for the Whether you will need to enroll for the
summer.summer.• Social or other extra-curricular activities Social or other extra-curricular activities
offered.offered.
Requirements for summer Requirements for summer programsprograms• Current undergraduate status.Current undergraduate status.• Most request sophomore or junior status.Most request sophomore or junior status.• Coursework appropriate to your status and Coursework appropriate to your status and
relevant to the area of the summer internship.relevant to the area of the summer internship.
Other requirements vary by program!Other requirements vary by program!
• Some require a minimum GPA.Some require a minimum GPA.• REU Programs-US citizens or permanent resident.REU Programs-US citizens or permanent resident.• Some target under-represented populations, Some target under-represented populations,
women, ethnic minorities or first generation/low women, ethnic minorities or first generation/low income college students.income college students.
Where and how do I find Where and how do I find them?them?
• Google “Undergraduate Research Program” and the Google “Undergraduate Research Program” and the field you are interested in (as globally or specifically field you are interested in (as globally or specifically as you want).as you want).
• Go to http://ugr.tamu.edu/ then Go to http://ugr.tamu.edu/ then OpportunitiesOpportunities -> -> External OpportunitiesExternal Opportunities
• Ask your academic advisor—some departments Ask your academic advisor—some departments have faculty and staff whose job it is to help place have faculty and staff whose job it is to help place you in an internship!you in an internship!
• Is there a specific group you want to work with? Is there a specific group you want to work with? Familiarize yourself with them and then contact Familiarize yourself with them and then contact them directly!them directly!
• Go to the Career Center! They have experts and Go to the Career Center! They have experts and workshops on Internship opportunities. workshops on Internship opportunities. HireAggies.comHireAggies.com..
Public Policy Internship Public Policy Internship (www.tamu.edu/ppip)(www.tamu.edu/ppip)
Texas A&M has its own summer programs!Texas A&M has its own summer programs!
• Public Policy Internship Program in Washington, Public Policy Internship Program in Washington, D.C. D.C. (deadline Sept 20(deadline Sept 20thth at noon) at noon)– Non-profitsNon-profits– Government agenciesGovernment agencies– Think tanksThink tanks
• Public Policy Internship Program in Paris. Public Policy Internship Program in Paris. (deadline Sept 20(deadline Sept 20thth at noon) at noon)– US Commercial ServiceUS Commercial Service
• Public Policy Internship Program in AustinPublic Policy Internship Program in Austin(deadline Oct 15(deadline Oct 15thth at noon) at noon)
Tinstman Tinstman Fellowship/InternshipFellowship/Internship• For spring 2011 semester in Midland, TXFor spring 2011 semester in Midland, TX
• $1500/semester stipend$1500/semester stipend
• Work with non-profit United WayWork with non-profit United Way
• Any major acceptableAny major acceptable
• Strong history of volunteer or non-profit Strong history of volunteer or non-profit activity preferred.activity preferred.
• Deadline for application: Deadline for application: Sept 30Sept 30thth
http://www.uwtexas.org/member-services/Tinstman_Fellowshiphttp://www.uwtexas.org/member-services/Tinstman_Fellowship
International Summer International Summer InternshipsInternships• You do not always have to speak the local You do not always have to speak the local
language. Many of the top research institutions language. Many of the top research institutions in Europe (for example) use English as the in Europe (for example) use English as the “professional” language.“professional” language.
• But speaking the local language might help you in But speaking the local language might help you in daily life there!daily life there!
• Check out the search engines or listings at the Check out the search engines or listings at the UGR website under either International UGR website under either International Opportunities or Summer Research Opportunities Opportunities or Summer Research Opportunities -> National Science Foundation-> International.-> National Science Foundation-> International.
Companies/FoundationsCompanies/Foundations• Google Google http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/static.py?page=students.html&sid=internhttp://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/static.py?page=students.html&sid=intern
• MicrosoftMicrosoft• Doctors without BordersDoctors without Borders• American Society of Magazine Editors American Society of Magazine Editors • National Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the Arts• Sierra ClubSierra Club• ABC NewsABC News• State FarmState Farm• Meredith Corp (media)Meredith Corp (media)• Wiley publishingWiley publishing• DisneyDisney• Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Agency• American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society• Also check out for more options:Also check out for more options:http://depts.washington.edu/eip/research.htmhttp://depts.washington.edu/eip/research.htmhttp://www.urop.uci.edu/opportunities/frame_offcampus.htmlhttp://www.urop.uci.edu/opportunities/frame_offcampus.html
What is the timeline?What is the timeline?
• Application deadlines range from early Application deadlines range from early February through March, but February through March, but some are earliersome are earlier. .
• Do NOT ask your professor to write you a letter Do NOT ask your professor to write you a letter at the last minute—that almost guarantees that at the last minute—that almost guarantees that the letter is not as good as you might wish.the letter is not as good as you might wish.
• Many require a letter of recommendation and a Many require a letter of recommendation and a short essay describing your interests or goals.short essay describing your interests or goals.
• Some may require an official transcript.Some may require an official transcript.
How do I apply?How do I apply?
Application forms can generally be Application forms can generally be found online at the program’s website.found online at the program’s website.
Sometimes you may have to email or Sometimes you may have to email or call the contact person listed to call the contact person listed to receive an application.receive an application.
You may have to download, fill in and You may have to download, fill in and mail a paper application—factor that mail a paper application—factor that into your timeframe!into your timeframe!
Continuing sources of Continuing sources of informationinformation• Undergraduate Research ListservUndergraduate Research Listservhttp://ugr.tamu.edu/resources/http://ugr.tamu.edu/resources/
undergraduate-research-listserv.htmlundergraduate-research-listserv.html
• Undergraduate Research webpageUndergraduate Research webpagehttp://ugr.tamu.edu/http://ugr.tamu.edu/
• Office of Proposal DevelopmentOffice of Proposal DevelopmentFunding Opportunities → Funding Funding Opportunities → Funding
Opportunities by Category → Opportunities by Category → Undergraduate Research OpportunitiesUndergraduate Research Opportunities
Need to take summer Need to take summer classes?classes?Try looking for a part-time research position here Try looking for a part-time research position here
at Texas A&M!at Texas A&M!
• Research for credit hours.Research for credit hours.
• Research for pay (if your professor has the Research for pay (if your professor has the funds).funds).
• You may be able to do the research during the You may be able to do the research during the summer and pay for the credit hours in the fall.summer and pay for the credit hours in the fall.
• The Glasscock Center for the HumanitiesThe Glasscock Center for the Humanities
How to find and approach a How to find and approach a professorprofessor
• Read their webpage first!Read their webpage first!• Contact them early (at least before spring Contact them early (at least before spring
break).break).• Have a suggestion as to what part of their Have a suggestion as to what part of their
research interests you the most.research interests you the most.• Have a short resume with your contact Have a short resume with your contact
information, any previous experience, information, any previous experience, relevant courses and references.relevant courses and references.
• Try to meet them face-to-face rather than Try to meet them face-to-face rather than emailing.emailing.
General TipsGeneral Tips
• Start EARLY (Start EARLY (end of fall semester end of fall semester or beginning of spring semesteror beginning of spring semester!).!).
• Prioritize applications by deadline and Prioritize applications by deadline and effort required.effort required.
• Ask for letters from your professors Ask for letters from your professors now or soon. Don’t worry about now or soon. Don’t worry about asking for multiple letters—it’s easy asking for multiple letters—it’s easy to edit once the letter is written.to edit once the letter is written.
Questions?Questions?
Contact Info:Contact Info:Office of Undergraduate ResearchOffice of Undergraduate Research
[email protected]@tamu.edu458-0039458-0039
