APT Center Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Summer Internship Program

Introduction

Located at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center (Cleveland, Ohio), the Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center is a national VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center created to capture innovations at the forefront of microelectronics and materials science and apply them to the clinical needs of disabled veterans. Along these lines, the core research activities of the center are concentrated in the following four major areas:

Prosthetics and Orthotics

Neural Interfaces

Health Monitoring and Maintenance

Activity-Based Neurorehabilitation

A distinctive feature of the APT Center is a focus on developing key enabling technologies for clinically-relevant applications. This approach leverages the technical expertise and world-class reputation of its collaborative partner, Case Western Reserve University, and makes the APT Center unique among the VA’s Research Centers.

For more information go to: http://www.aptcenter.research.va.gov/

Purpose

The purpose of this summer internship program is to enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, health services and rehabilitative research workforce by providing research experiences and related opportunities that can enrich the pool of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including nationally underrepresented groups, veterans, and disabled individuals who will be available to compete for future research opportunities in the mission areas of importance to the VA.

About the Program

The Advanced Platform Technology Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Summer Internship Program (APT DEI SIP) is for undergraduate STEM and PreHealth (Medical, Nursing, Physical Therapy) students who have completed at least their sophomore year of college. The 10-week program, under the guidance of Drs. Allison Hess-Dunning and Jeff Capadona, APT-SIP Advisors, is scheduled from May 30, 2023 to August 4, 2023. Up to 8 interns will be selected. The internship will allow undergraduate STEM students to participate in cutting-edge biomedical research projects under the mentorship of world-class investigators at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic and other academic affiliates.

As part of the selection process, applicants will have the opportunity to indicate their preference for the investigator they will work with during the internship. Once selected, the investigator and intern will create a specific mini project. This mini project will constitute the core experience for the internship. In addition, students will receive mentoring, participate in group meetings, attend planned lectures and laboratory visits, and will present their research findings at the end of summer research symposium.

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed at least two years (4 semesters or 6 quarters) of undergraduate study in a STEM degree program by the start of the 2023 summer with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Applicants must plan to return to undergraduate school or start a graduate program in fall 2023.

The APT Center is committed to the VA Office of Research & Development’s efforts to promote diversity in the VA workforce. The following underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. However, these criteria are intended to increase the applicant pool but will not be used as a final determinative factor in selecting participants for this program.

U.S. Veterans

Sons or Daughters of US Veterans

Individuals with a disability, defined as one with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.

Individuals from a racial / ethnic group that has been shown by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to be underrepresented in health-related sciences. (Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+)

Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet TWO or more of the following criteria:

Were or currently are homeless

Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families

Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years

Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor's degree

Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants

Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a parent or child

Grew up in one of the following areas:

a) A U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or

b) A Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas

Students from low socioeconomic (SES) status backgrounds have been shown to obtain bachelor's and advanced degrees at significantly lower rates than students from middle and high SES groups and are subsequently less likely to be represented in biomedical research.

Literature shows that women from the above backgrounds face challenges at the graduate level and beyond in scientific fields.

Exceptional applicants who are interested, but may not meet all of the above criteria, should contact sip@aptcenter.org prior to submission.

Compensation, Housing, and Travel Benefits

All interns will receive an hourly wage of $15/hr for the duration of their ten week, 40 hr/week internship. Housing (if needed) will be provided through Case Western Reserve University. Out-of-state students will receive travel assistance, up to $1000.