Finding an Internship
Some Important Guidelines & Tips:
Much of a successful internship application is making yourself stand out. Take a good look at the things you are doing on campus and consider how they contribute to your experience as a well-rounded Dartmouth student.
Here are some (not all) ways of increasing your chances of success:
• Work hard in your classes
• Learn a language
• Get to know your professors (you will need multiple letters of recommendation)
• Take a variety of classes early on, but by Junior and Senior year you should have a clear academic trajectory
• Commit to two or three extracurricular activities and stick with them
• Take on leadership roles around campus or in your extracurricular activities
• Get involved in community service
Just remember, you have a lot to offer potential programs! Don’t get discouraged if your application doesn’t make the cut – just consider it an opportunity to reevaluate what your research goals are and determine a new set of programs to apply for.
You may notice that some of the internship dates listed will not correspond precisely with Dartmouth’s term system. For example, an internship may start in late May, before Dartmouth concludes spring term. Do not be deterred—inquire right away as to whether the institution or organization will allow you to begin after classes end. Be proactive—it gets results!
And lastly, don’t forget that this is your leave term – ENJOY it! Find a program that you like, in a place that you will enjoy, with people that you can connect with. It will make the experience that much more memorable!
Check out Dartmouth Career Services
Dartmouth Research Funding Opportunities
The Dean of Faculty office of Undergraduate Research programs provides some funding for undergraduate research. For more information, see here.
Funding for Research and Internships:
• Dean of Faculty (independent research with a Dartmouth faculty mentor)
• Dickey Center (research on topics of international theme or scope)
• Rockefeller Center (possibly if your research is related to public policy)
• First Year Office (research projects in the summer following first year)
• Outdoor Programs (research on the environment and natural sciences)
• MacLean Grant (summer research in global industrialization & human rights)
• Academic Departments (some academic departments have funding for student research projects)
• Dartmouth Funds for Eliminating Financial Barriers (for those receiving financial aid)
Undergraduate Research Programs:
• Research Grants (funding for faculty mentored research)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowships (research opportunities for undergraduates working in close collaboration with Dartmouth, Thayer, DHMC or Medical School Faculty members)
• Mellon Mays Fellowships (funding for students committed to issues of racial diversity who plan to pursue Ph.D.s in select fields in the arts and sciences)
• James O. Freedman Presidential Scholarships (research assistantships with a faculty mentor)
• Beckman Scholarship (research scholarship for undergraduates majoring in chemistry or biology)
• E.E. Just Program (research program to increase minority participation in the sciences)
The website will list specific deadlines for applications.
Tips to National Institutes of Health Internship Success
1. Think about: What interests YOU?
• Read through the descriptions of labs and branches online.
• There are LOTS of institutes!
• Make a list of 5 (or 10…or more) positions that most reflect your research goals.
2. Visit the master website:
• If you are going for the traditional summer positions, visit the NIH site
• Alternatively, look here.
3. What do you say to the research lab?
• They will want a cover letter and resume
• Include in your cover letter your research interests and experience
• Be prepared to provide a transcript, a letter of good standing, and references
4. How long do you wait?
• The general rule in internship/job searching: FOLLOW UP!
• Blitz is not always the answer. Pick up the phone!
5. Talk to current IRTAs!
• NOT all labs are the same: find out more about the group and what YOU will do!
6. Take your pick!
• Choose the opportunity that best fits your research interests and/or personal preference
National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates Program
Looking for a great internship for Sophomore/Junior Summer? Try the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program.
Each summer the National Science Foundation provides opportunities for undergraduates all over the country to conduct research through the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU). The program allows students to work closely with faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students at participating institutions on a research project in a field of science, math, or engineering. It is also an opportunity to meet other undergraduates with similar interests. Program participants are granted stipends and, in some cases, housing and travel accommodations. To learn more, including how to apply, refer to the web site below. Most of the applications are due from now until March.
For a complete listing of REU projects, searchable by subject area and location, please visit the NSF site.
WARNING! Some of the links from REU’s main site are extremely out of date. Instead of struggling to find the program information online, simply look for the contact information of those involved in the institution’s REU program – and don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, either! Contacting these people directly will save you time and also allow you to get a firsthand account of the program before applying.