Science Administration and AI Intern

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) advances the discovery and sharing of scientific knowledge to benefit us all. As a biomedical research organization and philanthropy, HHMI supports a vibrant community of academic researchers, educators, students, and administrative professionals. Together, we’re unlocking the fundamentals of biology and building an open, inclusive future for science.

HHMI’s Headquarters is located on a beautiful 40-acre campus in the greater Washington DC metro area that is home to over 300 employees with strong cross-departmental collaboration between biomedical, legal, human resources, communications, information technology, investments, science education, and more.

The HHMI Science Department supports and augments the groundbreaking research conducted in HHMI labs across the nation, and you can be sure that your contributions while working here are making a difference.

Summary:
HHMI’s Science Department is seeking a motivated intern to support the Science Department in building practical, responsible AI fluency for everyday administrative work. This internship focuses on applied AI—not abstract theory—with an emphasis on real tasks such as writing, summarizing, analysis, planning, and decision support. The intern will work closely with project owners to identify where AI tools can meaningfully save time, improve clarity, and reduce cognitive load in day-to-day workflows. The intern will also develop an independent project that demonstrates the power of AI to improve our scientific operations. The internship will combine discovery, content development, and teaching, with the goal of leaving behind reusable resources that staff can continue to utilize for the foreseeable future.
 

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) hybrid position that will report to our Headquarters office in Chevy Chase, MD three days per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) and work remotely two days per week (Mondays and Fridays).

Please note: If selected for an opportunity, interns are responsible for securing their own housing for the duration of the internship (12 weeks in the summer from mid-late May to early-mid August).

What we provide:

• Hands-on experience working on a highly practical, people-centered AI initiative.
• Direct, robust mentorship from the Senior Director, Science Strategy and Administration as well as other team members within the HHMI Science Department.
• Exposure to science administration, organizational workflows, and leadership decision-making.
• Opportunity to help shape how AI tools can be integrated into work and make visible impact.
• Opportunity to develop, apply, and hone your skills in the areas of science administration, organizational effectiveness, AI tools, and project management.
• Develop an independent project of relevance to the HHMI Science Department to demonstrate the utility and power of AI tools in our workflow.
• Professional development opportunities and being part of an engaging intern cohort.
• This position will be compensated at a rate of $18.00-$20.00/hour for an undergraduate student or $21.00-$24.00/hour for a graduate student.

What you’ll do:

• Discover needs and opportunities for AI within the department including interviewing staff, identifying areas of need and/or improvement within workflows, surfacing pain points, and reviewing existing AI guidance and policies, and identifying initial training focus areas.
• Design concrete, job-relevant AI use cases including before-and-after examples, starter prompts and prompt variations, and guidance around tone, audience, and constraints.
• Create an internal guide and prompt library for practical AI use.
• Design and lead a short, hands-on, AI-focused seminar series for staff (e.g., lunch-and-learn sessions).
• Develop take-home materials such as prompt templates, checklists, and rules of thumb.
• Deliver final recommendations around next steps and potential future expansion of practical AI use.

What you bring:

• Current enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program majoring in data science, public policy, business administration, science administration, life sciences, or a related discipline is required. Graduate students will also be considered and are welcome to apply.
• Any skills in or exposure to machine learning would be a plus, but is not required.
• Comfort explaining concepts and teaching non-technical audiences.
• Thoughtful judgement about responsible technology use.
• Curiosity about and interest in applied real-world uses of AI.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings to scientific leadership.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage a multi-part project.
• Enthusiasm for the work with an eagerness to learn, grow, and be mentored.

How to Apply:

To apply for the internship, please submit the following materials:

• a resume or curriculum vitae (CV), including relevant courses
• a one-page cover letter detailing your interest in the internship
• the name and contact information of two references (e.g., professor, advisor, supervisor) who can speak to your skills related to this position. These references will not be contacted until after the interview process.

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; however, it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. #LI-NG1

Compensation and Benefits

Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more. 

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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