School of Arts and Sciences

DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program

Application Deadline

December 14. 2007

Program Description

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting applications from all eligible college and university students to participate in a summer research experience at federal research facilities. The DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program provides a 10-week summer research experience for undergraduate students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines. Students who demonstrate long-term goals aligned with the mission and objectives of the Department will have the opportunity to conduct research in DHS mission-relevant areas at various federal research facilities. The goal of this program is to prepare a diverse, highly talented, educated, and skilled pool of scientists and engineers to address HS-STEM issues.

The federal research facilities will benefit from the presence of highly motivated students with significant research potential who will provide fresh perspectives and new ideas. Most importantly, the internship will promote long-term collaborative relationships between talented student researchers, DHS, and federal research facilities.

DHS has partnered with Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) to manage the application and review process, notification, and implementation of the program. DHS Science and Technology Directorate will review applications and make final award selections. DHS reserves the right to make no awards and in the absence of program funding or for any other reason, to cancel this program. DHS assumes no liability for canceling the program or for anyone’s failure to receive actual notification of cancellation.

Research must be conducted on site at the assigned federal research facility. It is anticipated that the research undertaken by the participants will be unclassified.

Eligibility

  • You must be a U.S. citizen as of the application deadline.
  • You must be designated as a junior or senior at an accredited four-year U.S. college or university when you return to school in fall 2008.
  • You must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited college or university located in the United States or its territories as of the application deadline.
  • You must be studying in a HS-STEM field with an interest in one of the homeland security areas listed below:
    • Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response
    • Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
    • Risk and Decision Sciences
    • Human Factors Aspects of Technology
    • Chemical Threats and Countermeasures
    • Biological Threats and Countermeasures
    • Food and Agriculture Security
    • Transportation Security
    • Border Security
    • Immigration Studies
    • Maritime and Port Security
    • Infrastructure Protection
    • Natural Disasters and Related Geophysical Studies
    • Emergency Preparedness and Response
    • Communications and Interoperability
    • Advanced Data Analysis and Visualization
  • You must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale, averaged over all U.S. institutions including fall 2007 grades.

Award

Participants will receive a stipend of $500 each week (or $5000 for 10 weeks). Transportation expenses for one round trip between your current address and the assigned federal research facility, with some limitations, will be covered. The award does not cover moving expenses to your hosting facility. You must be able to participate for 10 consecutive weeks.

Requirements of Appointment

The research experience will take place at a federal research facility, as approved by DHS, between the months of May and August. In the application, students will indicate three participating facilities that they wish to be considered for, in order of preference. The full-time research experience will require no less than 40 hours per week, for 10 consecutive weeks. Participants are required to participate in a poster session and/or make an oral presentation to the scientific community at the hosting venue. In addition, an eight to 10-page paper about your internship experience and an evaluation form is required at the end of the internship experience.

Application Deadlines

Please note that the dates below are postmark deadlines, not a receipt deadline. There is no need to send information via overnight or special delivery.

  • December 14, 2007: You must submit an application form, including all essay questions on this date.
  • January 4, 2008: You must have two reference report forms submitted on your behalf on this date.
  • January 4, 2008: You must have an official academic transcript from all post secondary institutions attended submitted on your behalf by this date.
  • January 4, 2008: If you are a U.S. citizen by birth and do not have a U.S. passport (current or expired), you must submit a copy of your birth certificate by this date.

We will not accept materials via fax or as e-mail attachments. Do not send duplicate items via fax or e-mail. Do not submit resumes, off-prints, manuscripts, video tapes, slides, photographs, or other extraneous materials. Do not submit more than the designated page limit for essay questions in the application. If you send any of these extraneous materials, they will not be used in the review of your application.

Evaluation Process

Applications will be evaluated by a DHS panel of scientists and engineers based on the student's academic record, reference reports, and essays. DHS staff will pay attention to the applicant's research interests and the need for individuals in the applicant's specific field or sub-field. The final selection of awardees is made by DHS.

Reviewers provide an overall rating based on the following:

  • Academic Record
    Transcripts are reviewed and evaluated in conjunction with information on the student’s academic progress, rigor of their academic program, and other measures of academic success as demonstrated in the application.
  • Reference Reports
    The best reference reports come from professors who know the applicant and can make an informed judgment about the applicant's fitness for the proposed program of study.
  • Current Research Interests Essay
    The best essay will demonstrate both an ability to define a research problem relevant to the DHS mission and an understanding of how such a problem might be solved. An essay that pays careful attention to defining a research interest that is relevant to the DHS mission can often succeed without much detail on how a research problem would be solved. These essays should contain only original thoughts or other properly attributed information.
  • Professional Goals Essay
    The best essays will demonstrate insight into the career that interests you, the steps you may take to achieve your goals, and indicate how the internship experience will contribute to your career goals. Reviewers also take note of unique life experiences and backgrounds that motivate you to succeed in making the homeland safe and secure.

Other Important Notes

  • If you are currently enrolled at a two-year institution and you are awarded a summer internship, before you can accept the internship, you must be accepted at a four-year institution that has agreed to accept your first two years of study as transfer credit.
  • No commitment on the part of the participant, DHS, or the federal research facility with regard to later employment is implied or should be inferred by the offer or acceptance of an award.
  • No deferrals of the internship will be allowed.
  • All participants are considered guest researchers/investigators and are subject to DHS and hosting facility regulations governing scientists, engineers, other professionals, and students to determine their access to the hosting venue and eligibility for an internship.
  • As a guest researcher, each participant is responsible for payment of income taxes and is advised to become familiar with the relevant sections of the current tax codes.
  • Health-insurance is required for all participants.
  • Participation in the program is contingent upon the participants obtaining the proper clearance, if required. Depending on the site, applicants are subject to the issuance of a visit authorization clearance. Participants may not be allowed at the internship site until security access approval is given.
  • All applicants will be subject to a criminal records check and other background investigations conducted by the U.S. Government. These inquiries are conducted to develop information to assess various factors about the applicant, including reliability, trustworthiness, honesty, integrity, character, conduct, and loyalty to the United States.
  • All applicants must have full command of the English language.

Program Web page: http://www.orau.gov/dhsinternships/

For more information: dhsed@orau.org

Top