Terrorism Studies Data Collection/Open Source Research Internship - Fall 2023
*Interested students must apply through START's website here. Applications submit via handshake will NOT be considered.*
START is recruiting fall interns to assist various research portfolios with data collection and open source research in an effort to expand and improve upon the quality of our existing datasets. START datasets are used by researchers, analysts, and policymakers in the private sector and federal, state, and local governments in the United States and around the world. Pending project funding, candidates who apply to this data collection/open source research opportunity will be reviewed by different teams in need of intern support. If selected, interns will be assigned to a specific START research team for the fall semester.
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm ET on Sunday, June 25, 2023
Required application materials: Resume, cover letter & unofficial transcript
Citizenship Requirement: US citizenship is not required.
Team Meeting Times: TBD
Stipend amount: $2,250 for the 15 week fall semester
Remote or in person: In person
Responsibilities:
Examples of fall intern tasks include collecting, analyzing, and disseminating detailed information on the characteristics of terrorism events or groups (or tangentially related areas) in the United States or across the globe, then synthesizing and recording the information for eventual inclusion into one of START’s datasets. Interns working on assigned projects will gain valuable experience working on time-sensitive data collection efforts that are used by those responsible for shaping counterterrorism policy.
Required/minimum qualifications:
- Experience with open-source research and social science methods
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
- Strong interest in research
- Ability to work independently and in small groups
General Information on START Internship Program
Location:
START is headquartered at the University of Maryland, College Park, and will be offering its internship program in-person for the fall 2023 semester.
Schedule Requirements:
Orientation Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023. All interns are required to attend orientation. You may be required to attend an additional day of orientation on Friday, August 25, 2023. Your supervisor will inform you if you are required to attend both days.
Internship Duration: Thursday, August 24, 2023 to Friday, December 8, 2023. All interns must be able to commit to the duration of the whole program.
Work Hours: All interns must work at least 10 hours per week during the fall 2023 program. Work hours are scheduled from Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. Interns may not work longer than 8-hour or shorter than 2 hour shifts.
Conditions of Employment:
Intern offers are contingent on completion of a background check. A prior criminal conviction or convictions will not automatically disqualify a finalist from employment. Prior to any adverse decision, individuals will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding their background check. Individuals will also be provided an opportunity to appeal any decision prior to a final outcome.
Additionally, accepted interns will be required to complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Authorization, which may require in-person delivery. Lastly, accepted interns will be required to complete a Federal W4, State W4, and Direct Deposit forms. Non-U.S. Citizens will have additional tax/payroll paperwork to complete. The inability to complete any of these documents or processes may result in the internship offer being rescinded.
Other Information:
- All internships include a stipend of $2,250 for the fall and spring semesters, and $3,000 for the summer term.
- The University of Maryland has several opportunities for students to apply for other internship stipends. Please note that START is not involved in the application or review process for these stipends, with the exception of the Paul Gallo Memorial Scholarship for Non-Traditional Student Interns. Non-UMD students are encouraged to check with their home institutions for other stipend opportunities.
- The Ammerman Foundation Student Veteran Professional Development Fund: http://sagiving.umd.edu/ammermanvetsfund/index.html
- Paul Gallo Memorial Scholarship for Non-Traditional Student Interns: https://www.start.umd.edu/education/paul-gallo-memorial-scholarship-non-traditional-student-interns
- We strongly encourage and recommend that interns seek academic credit for their internship through their home institution or department, if possible.
- If undertaking the internship for credit, please indicate this on your application form. Be sure to notify your internship supervisor if you need to work more than 10 hours per week for this reason.
- Applicants interested in applying for an internship for any semester other than or in addition to fall 2023 must submit a separate application for each semester with the correct application form for that semester.
How to Apply for START Internships:
START is currently accepting applications for the fall 2023 semester. Please make sure you check the dates for the project you’re interested in to make sure they’re available during the semester you intend to apply. The fall 2023 application form will be open until 11:59pm ET on Sunday, June 25, 2023. Late, incomplete, or applications not submitted correctly will not be considered. To access the application: click here.
Notes:
- Due to the high volume of applications, only top candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
- All internships include a stipend of $2,250 for the fall and spring semesters, and $3,000 for the summer term.
- Any successful applicant will be asked to respond with a firm acceptance within 48 hours of the offer being made. Failure to respond could result in your place being given to another applicant.
- Failure to complete the application form in full or submit the proper materials according to the directions provided above could result in your application being rejected without further consideration.
- All interns must attend START Intern Orientation.
- All interns must be able to participate in the internship program for the duration of the program/semester dates.
If you have difficulty submitting your application or have questions about your application status, please contact us at internships@start.umd.edu. To request an ASL interpreter or other accommodations, please email diverseterps@umd.edu.
Application Materials:
All internship applicants must submit all materials in one .pdf file using the file name format:
LastName, FirstName_InternCandidate.pdf or .doc.
The internship application packet should include the following documents in the following order:
- One page cover letter
- One page resume
- Official or unofficial transcript(s)
Note for International Students:
START welcomes applications from international students for all of our internships where US citizenship is not a requirement (see the qualifications listed for each project for details).
It is, however, the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their visa or immigration status permits them to undertake a paid internship. It is also the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all proper paperwork, like documented approval from your home institution, is available and processed in time for the start of the internship. Failure to comply with these stipulations, or provide the paperwork required to verify your status, will result in your internship offer being rescinded without further consideration. START is unable to sponsor visas for non-US Citizens due to the short timeline of our program and the lengthy processing time for visas. Unfortunately, this largely limits our ability to accept anything other than F-1 visas on regular, not OPT, status.