NOW Live from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

About:

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program announces internship opportunities for Spring 2012. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 28, 2011. Smithsonian internships are designed to increase the education and professional skills of undergraduate and graduate students, and other individuals contemplating careers, in the professions, academic disciplines, and administrative functions represented at the Smithsonian.

Click here to download a PDF with more information including: FAQs, project options, and supervisor list.

Click here to read reflections from past interns.

Interns in the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American (APA) Program participate in an academic and professional journey based around empowerment while participating in unique Smithsonian activities.  Interns will have the opportunity to develop an APA research project centered on their scholarly interests.  Interns will have the opportunity to learn more about the museum field by participating in the development of upcoming APA exhibitions, education materials, and public programs. Work is performed under a supervisor who will encourage critical reflection on the intern experience and relate the internship to an intern’s academic, professional, and personal goals.

Selected interns will also receive special discounts, invitations to exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes tours of Washington’s top destinations. Smithsonian interns can take part in educational and cultural activities each month. These range from films and festivals, to tours and performances, to lectures and demonstrations.

Generally, the duration of an internship may range from 10-15 weeks to overlap with the university academic calendar. An internship usually involves a schedule of 20-40 hours a week. However, an intern schedule may be structured for any number of hours that are mutually agreeable to both the intern and the APA Program.

Selected interns will be provided with an office space with a computer and telephone.

Qualifications:

Applicants will be selected based on their academic qualifications, experience working with APA communities, personal career goals, and the quality of the proposed research project and its suitability to the APA Program’s missions and goals.

Applicants are generally current college students, recent college graduates (within one calendar year), and/or have been accepted to enter an advanced degree program. Most interns are at the senior or junior undergraduate level, though strongly qualified sophomores and freshmen will be considered. Because of the Smithsonian’s world-class scholars, libraries, and research facilities, graduate students and pre-doctoral students are highly encouraged to apply. Internships are unavailable for high school students.

How to Apply:

To apply, register on the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System’s (SOLAA) website. Through the website’s left navigation, follow the instructions and choose the APA Program’s internship option.

Applicants must submit a 1-2 page research project proposal that relates to APA history, art, or culture. Interns may concurrently work on an undergraduate or graduate capstone project, thesis, or dissertation to fulfill this internship requirement.

Outside Funding:

Internships through the APA Program are unpaid, but interns may receive academic credit through their universities. The APA Program can coordinate with each intern and school in completing the necessary paperwork.  Students are encouraged to apply for independent grants or scholarships through their schools or outside sources to financially support them during their internship appointment. Funding is available on a competitive basis through the Minority Awards Program from the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Fellowships and Internships.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Internships are open to all individuals who meet qualifications established for internships, without reference to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.

Contact:

Contact Krista Aniel at AnielKr@si.edu, Internship Coordinator, for help or more information.