Metcalf Sprint via Practitioner Program | Book Project with Author Noah Shannon

This internship is part of the University’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program. Click here to learn more about the program, its benefits, and the UChicago community of supporters. By applying to this internship you agree to follow the Student Recruiting Guidelines.

• Spring Quarter + Possible Extension to Summer 
• This position is not benefits eligible
• Please make sure that if selected for an interview, you communicate to your prospective host organization/employer where you will be physically located during the internship as your location may affect your (or your host organization/employer’s) ability to pursue this opportunity.                                                                                  
• If you are an international student, please make sure to visit the OIA website to familiarize yourself with your work authorization eligibility and requirements as soon as possible. If you’d like to make an appointment with your international adviser, please visit this page.
• Students who have been selected for the 2025-26 Academic Year Quad Undergraduate Research Scholars Grant are not eligible to receive Metcalf funding or additional opportunities during the academic quarters.  

Careers in The Arts & Humanities Program 

Metcalf Sprints & Practitioner Program

Metcalf Sprints are co-op, project-based training program for UChicago students. During the paid project, teams of undergraduates take a deep dive into a professional area of interest and build relevant experience. Students are placed in teams to lead engagements, research, and projects with employer partners. During the program, your receive access to coaches, industry experts, and the opportunity to network. These sprints are terrific way to hone professional development in technical research, analysis, strategic planning, and presentation skills and a great boost to your resume.  

Practitioner Program | Careers in the Arts and Humanities maintains relationships with leading practitioners – screenwriters, artists, journalists, novelists, and beyond – who may need student assistants on current projects.

These roles are funded, and in the case a student self-secures an opportunity, they may apply for funding through the program’s granting application process.

Students have worked with novelist Nathaniel Rich, journalist Gideon Lewis-Krause, historian Eve Fairbanks, author Lawrence Wright, comedian Tami Sagher, and more

ABOUT THE PRACTITIONER 

Noah Shannon noahgallaghershannon.com 

An award-winning reporter and writer from Colorado with work appearing in the New York Times Magazine, Harper’s, Oxford American, Paris Review, Washington Post, Men's Journal and elsewhere.

Noah's stories have been cited for awards by Columbia Journalism School, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and others, and I’ve appeared on The Daily, BBC and NBC Nightly News. He has reported widely throughout the US, Latin America and Africa, and written about skateboarding, violent thunderstorms, cinematography, corporate private security and other subjects. Noah also holds a MFA from Columbia University.

Current Book Project: a book for Random House about track and field, 1970s West Texas and a group of young athletes from East Africa who changed the sports world. 

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Author and New York Times Magazine writer Noah Gallagher Shannon is seeking a motivated, energetic person with a can-do approach to assist with research, transcribing, editing, and assorted administrative tasks for an upcoming book project. The book, which is forthcoming from Random House, revolves around three young men on the great University of Texas, El Paso track and field team of 1973-1981, a cohort of incredible athletes from recently de-colonized nations across East Africa who won 17 national titles before being driven out of the US by a racist/nationalist campaign by the established powers in the sport. 

Strong candidates will have a demonstrated interest or background in sports, East African culture and history, social justice/civil rights, West Texas, or the 1970s. Administrative work, such as transcribing interviews and organizing notes, will overlap closely with deep archival, library, and newspaper research into complex and varied topics, such as “scientific racism” or the “Mau Mau Uprising.” 

The job requires a person who can tackle these research tasks independently – gathering together, for example, a quick but nuanced list of potential experts and sources to consult on a given topic – but is also an opportunity to work closely with an established writer and grow reporting and writing skills in real-time.

Requirements

This job requires fast typing; rigorous organization; familiarity with navigating the intricacies of library, online, and archival research; a high standard of accuracy; close attention to detail; openness to learning new skills; and the ability to hit tight deadlines. Spanish language skills are a plus.

To Apply: Submit: 

• A resume
• Cover letter to include an explanation of the candidate’s qualifications and interest in the position.