PIFSC Student Intern Program
See below for eligibility requirements and application instructions.
The PIFSC Student Intern Program (PSIP) offers qualified college students professional scientific research experience and formal training opportunities tailored to meet their educational and professional goals and interests.
PSIP enables students to work under the guidance of talented staff of the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center who will provide challenging work opportunities and one-to-one mentoring in the student's field of study.
Students can choose from a variety of topics including but not limited to: fish ecology, protected species, oceanography, fishery economics, stock assessment, coral reef ecology, ecosystem studies, climate studies, marine biology/ecology, environmental monitoring, social sciences, etc..
Program Benefits:
PSIP will provide each participant with:
- an in-depth perspective on how NOAA Fisheries serves the community and the nation as a whole
- the opportunity to acquire specific skills needed to pursue their professional goals and aspirations
- the opportunity for hands-on research experience in their field of study
- the opportunity to build relationships with professionals in their field of study
PSIP will also benefit PIFSC by helping the Center's staff develop skills in leadership, teaching, and coaching and by building productive relationships with academic partners and institutions.
Program Components
The PSIP is a paid, summer-long (8-12 week) program that combines on-the-job training, formal research experience, one-to-one mentoring, and developmental assignments. Internship opportunities will be established in specific PIFSC projects. No additional travel or housing funding is provided.
Program components include:
- Performance Plans to establish goals and timelines for the intern's work assignments (established in meetings between intern and mentor)
- Periodic meetings between intern and mentor to check on progress (includes a mid-point review and final review)
- Inclusion of intern in PIFSC staff activities (division meetings, all-hands meetings, training, and other activities)
- In addition to the individual and group mentoring by PIFSC staff, the PSIP interns (3 targeted for 2012) will be encouraged to synergize with each other and other undergraduate and graduate interns (Hollings, EPP, NOAA/HIMB, etc.) at PIFSC
- Program wrap up: Interns and mentors hold a final meeting to review final products and discuss the internship experience
- Evaluations: Interns and mentors complete a program evaluation to provide feedback that will help PIFSC improve the structure of the internship program
Intern Eligibility Requirements
- U.S. citizenship (due to federal employment requirements)
- Full-time status as a degree-seeking college student with no fewer than 24 credit hours earned at an accredited college or university within the United States or U.S. territories, preferably just completing their sophomore or junior years
- Cumulative and semester/quarter GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) in all completed undergraduate courses and in the major field of study
- Majoring in a discipline or study area related to marine or atmospheric science, research, technology, or education, and supportive of NOAA's programs and mission (for example, biological, social or physical sciences; mathematics; engineering; computer and information sciences; and teacher education)
- Ability to obtain security clearance to work in a federal facility
2012 Application Instructions
Prospective interns are required to submit the following materials to
Donald Kobayashi (PSIP Coordinator)
via email at
donald.kobayashi@noaa.gov
no later than February 29, 2012. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Prior contact
with prospective mentors is highly recommended but not required. The application should be a single PDF file
attached to the email composed of the following elements in this order:
- 1-page coversheet, click here to download coversheet (0.2 MB PDF)
- Statement of interest which includes a description of the student's experience, research interests, and goals
- Resume
- Academic transcripts (reflecting student status at time of application, unofficial copies accepted)
- One letter of recommendation from a professor (this can be transmitted directly by email from professor if preferred)
