*Job Description: |
Purpose
Provide four paid internship opportunities annually at the Smithsonian for people with disabilities. Applicants who are in college or graduate school, or who have graduated within the last 6 months are invited to apply. While applicant pools and recruitment efforts will be based in the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, interns can be from anywhere in the U.S. and must have United States citizenship.
Questions
If you have any questions about the application process or the program, please send inquiries to Krista Flores, Program Specialist, Office of Accessibility (floresk@si.edu) or Tracie Spinale, Program Manager, Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies (SCEMS) (tspinale@si.edu). If you have questions concerning the SOLAA application, please go to the Help section on the SOLAA website.
Resources / Partners
Currently, the program is underwritten by generous support from the HSC Foundation. The Smithsonian Accessibility Program’s Central Accommodations Fund will make funds available to interns accepted to this program for interpreters, etc… as appropriate.
Up to $4,500 (pro-rated based upon hours) is awarded to the student as a stipend. Stipend payments are distributed every two weeks through a direct deposit via the Smithsonian’s Office of Fellowships.
Dates and Locations
Internship appointment tenure dates will vary based upon student availability and supervisor need. General cycles are summer (mid-May through mid-August) and fall (mid-September through mid-December). The Smithsonian facilities for this program will be located in Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland, and Virginia.
Final Report & Evaluation
Interns are required to submit a 3-4 page report to SCEMS (tspinale@si.edu) summarizing their internship activities upon completion of their internship, and complete an evaluation questionnaire.
Housing and Transportation
Interns are responsible for securing their own housing and transportation. Many universities rent out dorm space during summer to interns. No parking is available at the Smithsonian for interns. Public transportation, rail and bus, is located very close to the internship sites. The Smithsonian assumes no liability for intern housing. |
Qualifications: |
Eligibility Criteria
- The program is open to United States citizens (or permanent residents)
- Declared academic major, concentration, or discipline related to the internship (i.e. someone applying for a history internship, must be a history major, etc.)
- Enrolled as an undergraduate Junior, Senior, or equivalent in a degree granting program, at an accredited institution (*Just-graduated seniors are eligible to apply, provided their undergraduate graduation date was 6 months before the program start date. Graduate students will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Selection Criteria
1. At least a 3.0 GPA in the major (as verified by the submission of academic transcripts)
2. Demonstrated interest in the research and museological activities of the Smithsonian Institution
3. Demonstrated research skills, attention to detail
4. Match with student interest and available Smithsonian projects. Currently, our Summer 2009 intern projects are located at the National Zoo, Office of Facilities Engineering and Operations, and the National Museum of American History
Intern Policies
o Interns must complete a pre-appointment Security Background Investigation. Interns cannot be accepted into the program until they complete and successfully pass this investigation. The investigation includes fingerprinting and a criminal background investigation conducted by the Office of Personnel Security at the Smithsonian.
o All accepted Smithsonian interns must sign and complete an Internship Registration Form and Copyright Agreement. Completion of Photographic Release and Background Survey Questionnaire is optional, but encouraged.
o Interns must complete an on-line Computer Security Training and sign a User-Agreement Form when they begin in order to have access to Smithsonian e-mail and computers.
o Interns must read and sign a document pertaining to the prevention of workplace harassment.
Interns must furnish their social security number |
*Application Instructions: |
Applying Through SOLAA (Online Application System)
Use the SOLAA System to Apply Online: https://solaa.si.edu
1) Register for SOLAA
2) Select "Internship"
3) Select "Access to Opportunities"
E-mail address for documents that are unable to be uploaded: tspinale@si.edu
with subject line, Access to Opportunities
Application Materials
- Application
- Resume
- Academic essay: 2 pages describing how academic goals, qualifications, and career aspirations relate to the internship at the Smithsonian
- Unofficial academic transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- 2 Letters of recommendation from professors or teachers; if preferred, a reference can e-mail the letter directly to tspinale@si.edu. All letters are kept confidential. Applicants are not allowed access to letters.
Application Deadline
Application materials must be received by March 15th of the cycle year. Applications received before March 15th are given priority consideration; Applications received after the deadline are reviewed on a case-by-case, rolling basis subject to available funds.
Payment |
Michael Levine 
