Applicants must be:

■ Undergraduates in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia.
■ In good academic standing.
■ Current second- or third-years (for those not on a four-year schedule, you must have completed one academic year before applying and be coming back for at least one more semester of undergraduate study after the internship).
■ Ready to enroll in science and technology policy course for interns in spring term (meets Friday afternoons).
■ Committed to working in an office, attending organized events (e.g., the speaker series, group dinners, and group meetings, etc.), and assisting the program (e.g., by helping recruit future interns).
■ Committed to living in shared dormitories, even if other accommodations are available.  An important part of the experience is getting to know interns, which happens mainly in the dormitory.
■ Committed to working in Washington, Richmond, or Paris (and living in the dorm) for the full ten weeks of the internship. We have more qualified applicants than spaces, so we must devote our limited resources to those who will give and gain the most from the program. (Some interns travel as part of their office duties. We welcome such trips and count them as "being in their city" for this purpose.) Interns are free to travel on weekends, but we encourage them to take advantage of their city's unique opportunities as much as possible.

The program strongly encourages applications from women and from those who would broaden the racial, ethnic, and economic diversity of the group.  One of the reasons we provide housing and a stipend is so that all those selected can participate.

In general, individuals most likely to enjoy and contribute to the internship are:

■ Mature
■ Self-motivated
■ Curious
■ Responsible
■ Adaptable
■ Organized
■ Take initiative
■ Follow through on tasks
■ Strong analytic thinkers
■ Strong synthetic thinkers
■ Able to work well with others
■ Able to work independently
■ Academically successful
■ Skilled in writing and public speaking
■ Skilled in research
■ Interested in science and technology policy

The internship is a summer of exploration.  It is ideal for those who want to pursue careers in policy.  Students unsure of their plans can use the experience to learn about careers they might not know exist.  And students who are planning careers outside of policy-in industry, law, medicine, education, and more-will find their experience deepens and broadens their understanding of those fields.  Interns in all these categories are important, valued members of the program.

Ready to apply?  Click here.