Student Assistant 3-CSMI Writing Intern (STDT 3)

Position Description

The Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) is searching for an undergraduate student with a passion for writing and science communication to join our marketing team as a writing intern. The selected student will generate compelling content for CMSI platforms such as our website, blog, newsletter, and social media channels.

Writing assignments are provided by the internship coordinator, and students are expected to complete two to three written pieces during their internship, culminating in several published pieces to add to their portfolios. Writing interns will work closely with the CMSI Director of Marketing and Communications, who serves as both supervisor and mentor.

Primary duties are to write content for our blog, newsletter, and social media. Student also expected to conduct interviews with researchers, attend one or more CMSI related events during their internship, and meet on a weekly basis with the Internship Coordinator 

Qualifications

Applicants for the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute Writing Internship must be currently enrolled UC Davis undergraduate students with sophomore standing or higher. All majors are encouraged to apply, but some scientific training is preferred.

Interns must:

• Be self-directed and motivated
• Work well with a variety of people
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Be organized and able to meet deadlines
• Be in good academic standing

Experience conducting interviews is preferred but not required.

Time Commitment

Writing interns are expected to work between 5 and 10 hours per week during the winter and spring quarters of the 2024-2025 academic year, excluding finals weeks and spring break. This time will be spent meeting with the internship coordinator, researching and writing.

Application Requirements

All applicants must submit the following to the internship coordinator:

• Résumé
• Cover Letter
• Proof of Academic Good Standing
• Two Writing Samples

Résumé: Should include:

• Name and contact information
• Year in school and major
• Résumé summary: A brief one-to-two sentence section explaining your qualifications
• Work history
• List of skills relevant to the position
• Additional relevant accomplishments

Cover Letter: Should include:

• A statement of interest that explains why writing is important to you
• An explanation of why you selected the included writing samples
• Details about your qualifications for the position
• Any other relevant information

Proof of Academic Good Standing: An unofficial transcript is acceptable and can be obtained through myucdavis.edu.

Writing Samples: Should include:

1. One nonfiction piece of your choosing, up to 600 words (this can be an excerpt from a larger piece).
2. One written piece of 200-400 words using one of the following prompts:
   1. Why Marine Science Matters to Me - Reflect on your connection to marine science. Share a specific experience, moment or topic that sparked your interest in this field and explain how this passion shapes your goals for the future.
   2. Solving Marine Mysteries - Choose a pressing issue impacting marine ecosystems (e.g., plastic pollution, ocean acidification or invasive species). Research and write about the problem, its causes and possible solutions, focusing on why addressing it is important to you.
   3. The Role of Science Communication - Discuss why communicating science to the public is important, especially in the context of marine science. Share ideas on how researchers can make their findings accessible and impactful for broader audiences.

Submissions should be science-focused and feature writing, news writing, blog posts, or other formats demonstrating tone, style and writing skills, including content, grammar, spelling, punctuation, proper information, quotation sourcing and attribution.

Contact

For questions about the position, email jmpramos@ucdavis.edu.