Summer Internship for PhD Students
Boston College Summer Internship for PhD Students
Boston College is offering a second year pilot of an internship program for PhD students in the humanities and qualitative social sciences sponsored by the Institute for the Liberal Arts, the Office of the Provost, and the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. Given the current shortage of full-time academic teaching positions, these internships are designed to let PhD students explore possible non-professorial careers, learn more about how to make a transition to an “Alt-Ac” career path, and provide work experience that will facilitate such a transition.
The internships will take place in June and July, 2022. Students who participate will be expected to work 35-40 hours per week on the internship and in addition to participate in a weekly group meeting to reflect on the experience and to learn about practical steps for pursuing non-teaching careers. (Whether the internships and meetings will be remote or in person will be determined later in the spring.) Participants will have to complete two informational interviews with people in a relevant field and write a short report at the end of the internship. Interns will be paid a stipend of $4,000.
Application Process & Deadline
Applications can be submitted online at: PhD Summer Internship Application Form
Applications are due on: March 4, 2022
All applicants must have the approval of a dissertation director, main advisor, or graduate program director.
PhD students at any stage of their degree program can apply for up to two internships and should indicate which is their first choice. Providing a second choice is optional. We are offering eight different internships (seven at BC, one external) and some of these positions will accept more than one intern, for a total of up to twelve internships.
Questions: Contact Mary Crane (mary.crane.1@bc.edu)
BC Libraries
https://library.bc.edu
Rare Books and Manuscripts Curatorship:
Host Department, John J. Burns Library, BC Libraries
Have you ever wondered how Burns Library and other rare book and manuscript libraries acquire their collections? Working with Burns Librarian Christian Dupont, you will learn about the strategies and techniques library curators employ to build collections of rare and unique materials through purchases and donations. You will assist with analyzing current holdings to define targeted areas for development, evaluating bookseller offerings and auction listings, formulating bidding and negotiating strategies, and responding to donation offers.
This summer’s internship will focus on Burns Library’s signature Jesuit and Catholic Americana collections. The Jesuitica collection is being actively developed through purchases of pre-1800 books and manuscripts, while the Catholic Americana collection is undergoing retrospective evaluation to better define areas of strength and future growth. Given these focus areas, students who are studying theology or history will likely be the most prepared to undertake this internship and find it most rewarding.
Since many of the tasks will involve working with physical collections, this internship will require onsite work in Burns Library scheduled during normal operating hours of 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday, though some tasks, such as consulting online catalogues and bibliographies, may be performed remotely outside these hours. The start and end dates are also negotiable, with the understanding that you will be expected to fulfill the requirements between the end of the spring semester and beginning of the fall term, and to participate fully in the ILA’s internship cohort programming in June and July.
BC Libraries
https://library.bc.edu
Digital Humanities:
Host Department, Digital Scholarship Team, BC Libraries
The Digital Humanities (DH) internship will support students wishing to incorporate DH approaches and skills into their research and actively contribute to their scholarly communities. The intern will participate in the development of an online project associated with the Certificate in Digital Humanities, with the goal of promoting the use of Digital Scholarship (DS) in academic classrooms at Boston College. Students will work with one of a handful of developing projects, with possibilities including the creation and utilization of spatial and 3D datasets, an analysis of Jamaican folktales, or the ongoing World Description and Travel database.
To facilitate this work, the student will meet online weekly for project check-ins and support, as well as to discuss career options. Library staff will provide training, and the student will have the opportunity to shadow subject specialists and learn more about academic library work. Students will leave the internship with a greater understanding of working within a project team, developing and managing projects, and applying specific technical skills. Applicants do not need to be on-site for this internship. Preference will be given to students who are part of the certificate program.
BC Libraries
https://library.bc.edu
Academic Resources:
Host Department, Educational Initiatives and Research Services, BC Libraries
Gain skills and experience in online course resource management and developing learning tools. This internship project will focus on creating online tutorials and educational support materials for faculty and staff who are using library resources in class curricula. BC Libraries supplies both scanned materials and electronic books, e-journals, film, and other digital resources according to course requirements and reading lists each semester. With a new online platform being implemented, an opportunity is available to learn the new technical functionality and highlight usage and benefits, both pedagogical and technical as well as write documentation and train faculty and staff.
This internship will work with staff throughout the Libraries, utilizing the course resource management system (Leganto) to create BC-specific learning materials. They will collaborate with various on-campus departments and faculty, research and write content, and create learning objects. The Libraries’ Research & Learning team will provide direction and support for the intern in this role. The internship may be onsite in O’Neill Library or remote.
BC Libraries
https://library.bc.edu
Scholarly Communication:
Host Department, Scholarly Communications and Research
This internship will introduce a student to the ways that librarians support Scholarly Communication. The intern will learn about different publishing business models and platforms, how they affect the dissemination of research.
The intern will explore the publication mores of an academic discipline to assist in developing support and marketing plans for library services. This will include looking at research methodologies, journal and book pricing and access, and citation practices. The intern will receive training on bibliometric analysis, as well as on visualization tools needed to communicate findings. They may also work on a project to support hosting dissertations and other scholarly material via BC's institutional repository. This would include learning about library systems and the importance of metadata in organizing and retrieving scholarship.
The intern will not be required to work on-site, but will need to be available during business hours for virtual meetings, and may work on-site in O’Neill Library There will be regular meetings with the Scholarly Communications Librarian, as well as opportunities to meet with other members of the Library team to learn more about librarianship.
Student Affairs, Boston College
https://www.bc.edu/studentaffairs
Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs is home to 15 affiliated departments that provide a rich array of co- curricular programs and services that promote student learning, health and wellness, leadership development, and community engagement. The division's 160–member staff works with faculty, administrators, and alumni to support the personal, professional, social, and spiritual growth of the University's undergraduate and graduate students.
The Student Affairs internship will provide opportunities to explore different aspects of student affairs administration, including the ability to work cross functionally in areas including student engagement and student conduct. Housed within the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, this internship supports the priority areas of the Division of Student Affairs, and works on initiatives related to mental health, social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campus.
The Student Affairs intern will report to the Special Assistant for Administration and Strategic Initiatives within the Office of the Vice President.
Some possible projects may include:
- In collaboration with University Advancement and Admissions, organize the Student Affairs Summer Series / programs with admitted students over the summer.
- Building out MyBC materials and pathways for students, including utilizing our engagement platform, Org Sync.
- Assist with initiatives and projects related to Restorative Justice, which may include data analysis, benchmarking, policy writing, and training development.
- Help plan Weeks of Welcome, the opening weeks of the semester that help connect students to each other and the BC Community.
- Support the development of Living Learning programs through Residential Life, including benchmarking and program planning.
Desired skill sets/Qualifications
Strong communication and interpersonal skills; strong motivational and organizational skills; ability to work independently and effectively on multiple tasks and be detail oriented; initiative, and flexibility; willingness to work as part of a team; commitment to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion; technological competence, especially with Microsoft Office, Campaign Monitor and Canvas helpful; interest in learning about current issues in Student Affairs.
McMullen Museum, Boston College
https://www.bc.edu/artmuseum
McMullen Museum
The position is designed for a graduate student to have hands on experience in the planning and coordination of an exhibition at an academic museum. Working with McMullen Museum of Art’s Assistant Director John McCoy, the student will help with the preparations for the 2022 exhibition, Raw, Weirdo, and Beyond: American Alternative Comics, 1990-2000. Some of the responsibilities will include:
- Research assistance on an introductory exhibition essay
- Assisting with catalogue editing tasks, including communications with essay writers
- Connecting with and communicating with loaning artists, institutions, and collectors
- Assisting with exhibition writing
- Assisting with catalogue design and layout
- Potentially working with other McMullen staff to learn the processing of loans, shipping of art, and handling of objects
This is an ideal opportunity for a candidate with strong research and writing abilities who is interested in museum studies. An interest in comics is also a plus.If the student who completes this internship is interested in developing knowledge of museums, the ILA will provide funding to audit Nancy Netzer’s course ARTH437001 The Art Museum: History. Philosophy, and Practice in fall, 2022.
Schiller Institute, Boston College
https://www.bc.edu/schiller
The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society
The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society is seeking a PhD-level summer intern, to contribute to data collection/analysis and operations.
The Institute is in a growth stage, operating similar to a startup company. As a result, there will also be many opportunities for the intern to contribute to the day-to-day operations and strategic planning of the Institute. In this role, the intern will operate similar to an in-house consultant, providing input on a range of strategic, planning and organizational activities. For example, the intern may be asked to lead the assessment of the affiliated faculty committee feedback to determine the contours of the Faculty Affiliates Program. Similarly, the intern may be asked to analyze findings from student convenings held in Spring 2022.
In summer of 2022 the Institute will continue to scale-up from start-up phase. Interns would determine areas where we can increase efficiency, such as contributing to a faculty handbook for Schiller faculty.
The Institute is also engaged in various institutional research projects and the intern will have the opportunity to contribute to these under the mentorship of the Institute’s Executive Director.
If the intern expresses interest in working on aspects of the Institute’s work not included above, we are open to considering other projects.
The Guild for Human Services
www.guildhumanservices.org
The Guild for Human Services
The Guild for Human Services: History of The Guild and of Disability Rights Advocacy in Massachusetts
The Guild for Human Services is seeking a partner to continue to develop a history of The Guild that will serve as a complementary part of an existing archival project. Research into the Guild’s history starting with the incorporation of the Protestant Guild for the Blind and the context of its creation. Explore deeper The Guild’s history of serving marginalized populations and provide a backdrop of the history of disability rights and advocacy at that time. Tying in such initiatives as the Massachusetts Historical Society’s series on Disability and the American Past, our academic partner will work to build a historical timeline.
Possible student contributions
- Interviewing former students, employees and board members about the history of The Guild over the past 7 decades.
- Integration of photographic and historical archives and timeline of history of disability rights, activism and service deliver in Massachusetts and US.
- Supporting Guild staff in preparation, logistics, content production for The Guild’s website and possible online webinars.
- Participate in creating a Guild timeline with Guild staff and other partners.