Summer Internship for PhD Students

The Schiller Institute

The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society is seeking a PhD-level summer intern, to contribute to programs, communications, and data collection/analysis.

The Institute is in a growth stage, operating similar to a startup company. As a result, there will 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.

Two of the signature programs of the Schiller Institute are sending the BC delegation to the United Nations climate conference (COP), and the community-inspired, project-based course, which is an international immersive experience for undergraduate students. The intern would support the Schiller team in planning for and executing those programs. In addition, the Institute provides a large amount of seed grant research funding to BC faculty. The intern may be asked to review the reported outcomes of the grant programs, assessing the return on investment and visualizing trajectory of each project. As another example, the Institute is planning to host at least one on-campus conference during the summer or fall, and the intern would likely assist with multiple projects related to the conference(s).

The Institute is also engaged in various research projects such as methods for developing relationships between the University and local public service organizations 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.

Burns Library Public Services

Burns Library is the Archives and Special Collections Library at Boston College. Burns Library Public Services manages the library’s front-facing services, including access, instruction, programming, and outreach.

The summer 2025 Public Services internship will provide a Ph.D student the opportunity to plan and execute an online exhibit with a potential physical component. Under the supervision of Public Services staff, the intern will research, develop, and implement an online exhibit. This project will include collaborating with Public Services staff to select an exhibit topic, theme, and focus. It will also include selecting exhibition materials, writing exhibit text, and assisting with exhibit reproductions and design. 

The work will be performed on-site (at Burns Library) for 30 hours per week. Dates and working hours are negotiable with the understanding that the program requirements will be completed within eight weeks during summer 2025 during Burns Library operating hours.

Qualifications:

• PhD candidate at Boston College, preferably with subject expertise in a field related to Burns Library collections
• Strong writing skills including experience writing for a public audience
• Professional curiosity regarding libraries, archives, and museums
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Technological competence, particularly with Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite

Digital Production Services
NB: Maximum of 2 Positions Available

The Digital Production Services (DPS) team is currently accepting applications for their ILA Summer Doctoral Student Internship. The Digital Production Services internship is for current PhD students interested in learning the behind the scenes processes of digital collection production, with a focus on digital imaging and editing to industry standards.

The intern will contribute to an ongoing BC Libraries initiative to digitize content related to Catholic studies, with the goal of creating an open-access and searchable database of research materials. The intern will be trained on a state of the art  imaging system, including a Phase One camera, DT Atom copy stand, and Capture One Cultural Heritage software. The intern will also assist with scanning items on flatbed scanners as well as project tracking and task management in the Trello project management platform.

Technical experience is not required, as training will be provided at the beginning of the internship, but the following skills are a plus:

• Attention to detail, especially with repetitive tasks
• Familiarity with Google Sheets
• Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Bridge
• Interest in photography, digital preservation, and open access initiatives

Internship hours will take place in the O’Neill Library Digitization Studio (ONL Room 214). Working hours are flexible after the initial training period of about two weeks.

Contacts: Andrew Weidner (andrew.weidner@bc.edu), Head of Digital Production Services; Chloe Jones (chloe.jones@bc.edu), Digital Production Librarian

Digital Scholarship 
NB: Maximum of 4 Positions Available

Host: BC Libraries Digital Scholarship Group

Contact: digitalscholarship@bc.edu

The Digital Scholarship (DS) internship is for PhD students interested in learning cutting-edge digital scholarship methods and skills in a project-based, hands-on environment.

Participants work on one or more existing Digital Scholarship Group (DSG) projects alongside members of the DSG, contributing to parts of the projects that align with skills of interest. Contributions could include:

• Data extraction, structuring, and cleaning
• Content creation, especially text encoding and 3D scanning/modeling
• Data visualization, especially of spatial data
• Web design and development

The DSG is happy to provide more information about existing projects should you have any questions.

While specific technical skills are not required, familiarity with 1) spreadsheets and formulas, 2) file sharing and storage platforms like Google Drive and GitHub, and 3) attention to detail is a plus.

At its completion, participants in this internship will have gained a better understanding of DS and digital humanities (DH) concepts, a greater mastery of relevant technical skills, and a wider range of project development and management strategies. During the internship, students will have access to hardware, software, and shared workspace in the Digital Studio (O’Neill Library), as well as DSG collaborators. 

If you have any questions, contact the DSG at digitalscholarship@bc.edu

Academic Advising

The Academic Advising Center (AAC) collaborates with the Provost's Office, First Year Experience, and colleagues in other undergraduate schools to welcome the incoming undergraduate class of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences (MCAS). The intern will work closely with the AAC administration in organizing, training, and executing summer academic orientation, advising, and registration. Members of the Class of 2027 will attend one of seven advising weeks during the months of June, July, and August. The intern will co-lead faculty training workshops, serve as a point person for faculty who take on summer advising responsibilities, and take on a batch of first-year advisees. The intern will work on editing and updating the summer advising web pages and may be assigned other exploratory projects throughout the summer.

Contact: Joseph Desciak, Associate Dean for First-Year Students (desciak@bc.edu), and Rebecca Schmitz, Associate Director of the Academic Advising Center (rebecca.schmitz@bc.edu)

Morrissey College Graduate School Intern

Morrissey College Graduate School (MCGS) supports Ph.D. and master’s students from 16 different departments and programs. The office oversees all aspects of the graduate student experience ranging from admissions, financial support, and academic affairs. 

The MCGS internship will provide opportunities to work closely with the associate dean for academic affairs to support the onboarding and orientation of new students.

The MCGS intern will report to the associate dean for academic affairs and work closely with the graduate school office.  This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure to senior leaders within the graduate school and learn about the field of graduate education.

Project:

Assisting with the development and implementation of MCGS orientation, a one-day onboarding program for all new masters and doctoral students, held in late August 2025.  The intern will work on:

• The development of a canvas site
• The communication plans to new students
• The agenda and flow of the day
• Logistics associated with the program
• Organizing afternoon breakout sessions
• Recruiting graduate students to support the orientation program

Desired skill sets/Qualifications:

• Strong communication; ability to work as part of a team; strong organizational and planning skills; ability to work independently, ability to work simultaneously on various tasks, ability to manage complex projects and track completion.
• Technological competence, especially with Microsoft Office and Canva would be beneficial; interest in learning about current issues in graduate education a bonus.

McMullen Museum

This internship position is designed for a graduate student to gain hands-on experience in the planning and coordination of an exhibition at an academic museum. Working with Co-curator Marjorie Howes, the intern will help with the preparations for the 2026 exhibition: Collaborating in Conflict: The Yeats Family and the Public Arts. Some of the responsibilities will include:

• Research assistance on an introductory exhibition essay and a catalogue introduction
• Assisting with catalogue editing tasks, including research, fact-checking, design and lay-out, and communications with essay writers
• Assisting with exhibition writing of wall text, and labels, help with developing a timeline, family tree, and interactive features
• 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.

Student Affairs Administration

The Division of Student Affairs is home to 15 departments that offer co-curricular programs and services designed to promote student learning, health and wellness, leadership development, and community engagement. With a staff of 160, the Division collaborates with faculty, administrators, and alumni to support the personal, professional, social, and spiritual growth of undergraduate and graduate students. Under the leadership of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Division is embarking on a transformative strategic plan to shape the future of student engagement and success.

If you’re a doctoral student seeking a meaningful summer opportunity that bridges academic research with higher education practice, we invite you to apply for this dynamic internship. The Student Affairs Administration Internship provides a unique opportunity to work directly with the Associate Vice President of Career Services and Integrated Learning while also engaging with members of the Student Affairs Leadership Team based on your interests. This position is ideal for doctoral students who aspire to become faculty members, student affairs leaders, or academic administrators and are looking to enhance their academic and professional portfolios with real-world experience.

Internship Overview

Reporting to the Senior Adviser to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Student Affairs Intern will gain unparalleled exposure to executive decision-making processes and contribute to key strategic initiatives shaping the student experience.

Key Projects

• Staff Leadership Development: Assist in creating a comprehensive leadership development program for Student Affairs staff, including pathways to promotion, professional development sessions, and retreats. These initiatives will deepen your understanding of organizational development and talent management in higher education.
• Integrated Learning Programs and Research: Assist in the development of integrated learning initiatives, with a focus on conducting research on best practices for collaboration between faculty and student affairs to design courses that enhance student formation and community-based learning. This research will inform proposals for new integrated learning experiences, such as living-learning communities and senior-year engagement programs. Projects may include qualitative and quantitative data collection, literature reviews, and recommendations for scalable program design.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze data, conduct research, and translate findings into actionable strategies.
• Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Interest in higher education administration, student development, and leadership.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience with tools such as Microsoft Office, Canva, and Campaign Monitor (helpful but not required).

Global Engagement Office

The Global Engagement Office seeks an intern to help support its ever-growing agenda of bridge-building with our partners worldwide. This position will work directly with the Executive Director and Assistant Director on various projects throughout the summer—in particular with the Visiting Doctoral Summer Fellows Program.

Responsibilities

• Event and meeting planning and logistics (e.g., programming for Summer Visiting Doctoral Fellows)
• Welcoming and assisting international visitors, including leading campus tours
• Participating in and/or co-leading weekly lunch workshops with the Summer Fellows
• Creating and editing a weekly newsletter for the Summer Fellows
• Projects for Global Engagement based on the graduate assistant’s interests and expertise
• Other projects as assigned

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Attention to detail
• The ability to work independently
• Must possess a high level of maturity, integrity, and critical thinking skills
• Interest in global cultures, international education, and global partnerships is crucial
• Fluency in languages other than English is a plus

Questions? Contact Bryan Fleming at bc.global@bc.edu

The MIT Press Acquisitions Department Internship (External)

The Acquisitions Department at the MIT Press is seeking an intern, to contribute to and learn about the acquisitions, development, and editorial process of book publishing. This is a great opportunity to learn about the book publishing process, from ideation to publication, and understand how acquisitions editors evaluate book projects, do competitive research, and manage peer review at a university press.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Reading and evaluating prospective projects
• Querying peer reviewers
• Updating metadata
• Attending virtual meetings with department
• Researching consumer interests and identifying trends via social media and other outlets
• Competitive title research

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Ability to handle multiple assignments
• Strong English speaking/writing/editing skills

During the internship, the individual will have access to hardware and software. 

For further information, please contact Janice Audet at jlaudet@mit.edu. 

The MIT Press Marketing Internship (External)

The MIT Press is one of the largest, most prestigious university presses in the world and a leading publisher of books and journals at the intersection of science, technology, art, architecture, design, and the social and cognitive sciences. The Press publishes 300 new books each year with an active global marketing presence. The intern will work under guidance with the marketing team at the Press to assist with all aspects of the marketing process, including support of our publicity outreach, social media, email marketing, copy proofing, and communications work. The intern will experience all aspects of the marketing process – from initial author outreach to pre-publication promotion to on-sale publicity outreach.  Additionally, the intern will work with the manager of the MIT Press Bookstore in developing, coordinating, and executing events programming while working in a bookstore on the MIT campus.  Duties include working with campus and local partners to plan and execute events, assisting in marketing, and staffing and selling books at events.  Some event duties may take place outside regular M-F 10-6 store hours.  The intern may also be assigned in-store tasks such as merchandising, ordering, and compiling data, as well as cashiering. 

Congregational Library & Archives (External)

The Congregational Library and Archives (CLA) is a special collections research center focusing on the history and impact of congregationalism in America from the 17th century to present day. The CLA holds about 225,000 items, both print and manuscript, on Congregational Christian history and related topics. Currently, the organization is engaged in various projects with a sustained focus to improve intellectual control over under-described and uncatalogued resources.

The summer 2025 internship will provide an opportunity to gain experience in a special collections or religious library, learning about behind-the-scenes library functions, collection management and organization, and cataloguing/metadata principles. This project facilitates the cataloging of material related to the history of individual churches. Under the supervision of the Librarian, the intern will identify and collate uncatalogued resources, organize and prepare material for cataloguing, create metadata, and process newly catalogued material for access. The CLA requests the intern create content at the end of their tenure about their experience for the benefit of members and the public (format negotiable).

Desired qualifications:

• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Technological competence
• Interest in librarianship

The work will be performed on-site for 35 hours per week. Dates and working hours are negotiable with the understanding that the program requirements will be completed within eight weeks this summer during the CLA’s operating hours of 8am-5pm.

Job Description

The BC Summer Library intern will manage a project to increase intellectual control and access of uncatalogued collections. The focus of the project is uncatalogued church history files, consisting of print ephemera and pamphlets related to specific Congregational churches from across the country, which are catalogued at the collection level. Discovery and use of these materials will be made possible by the intern’s descriptions in the online catalog.

Under the supervision of the Librarian, the intern will inventory and prepare material for cataloguing, create metadata, and physically process newly catalogued material for access. It is also expected that the Library Intern will conduct an outreach effort about their experience. This is a 2-month, full-time (35 hours per week) position with a $4,000 stipend funded by Boston College. Candidates will be Boston College PhD candidates exploring careers outside of academia.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Catalog inventoried church history materials for access
• Add new items to existing church history collections
• Update catalog records using local standards and procedures
• Collate and organize new acquisitions of church history collections
• Organize material by church and create inventory
• Compare inventory with catalog records to remove duplicates and note existing collections
• Complete cataloguing of new material into existing collections
• Participate in outreach
• Create content (e.g. blog, newsletter post, brown bag lunch) about experiences working at the CLA

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• PhD candidate at Boston College, preferably in a related field

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Professional curiosity of library theory, concepts, and methods
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Technological competence, particularly with Microsoft products and datasets

Preferred Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Experience working in a library setting

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Experience creating standardized metadata
• Familiarity with proper handling of historical material
• Familiarity with working with an integrated library system (ILS)

Working Conditions

• Work must be completed on-site (14 Beacon St., Suite 200, Boston, 02108)
• Work requires frequent exposure to dust and red rot (degraded leather)
• Moderate physical activities, including ascending/descending stairs, moving average-weight boxes (up to 50 pounds), standing and walking
• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment