ASPIRE Internship: Science Communication Intern, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Basic Sciences (remote)
The Office of the Dean of Basic Sciences is looking for a science communication intern. This position provides the intern with an opportunity to contribute to the dissemination of the knowledge generated within Vanderbilt’s basic sciences research labs, which includes discoveries and innovations that further our understanding of life at the systemic, organ, cellular, and molecular levels, and which help us understand the pathology of various diseases.
The intern will work under Lorena Infante Lara, Ph.D., Science Writer, Editor, and Social Media Manager for Basic Sciences, to execute creative communication strategies through both traditional and social media platforms. They will generate content for various outlets, including but not limited to drafting researcher interviews or articles summarizing research papers, sharing research on Twitter, acquiring images for and posting engaging descriptions on Instagram, writing articles about various happenings within Basic Sciences, promoting our monthly seminar series, and possibly writing and/or editing articles for our magazine, Vestigo. Interns may also generate images, graphics, or videos for social media if they have the drive or know-how.
The ideal candidate must be self-motivated, a team player, results oriented, and dedicated to the achievement of personal and team goals. This internship requires a candidate with excellent writing skills, attention to details, an interest in science for a variety of audiences, confidence in science communication, and a willingness to learn and build upon their skills.
INTERNS MAY EXPECT TO:
- Generate written content (primarily) or images or videos on current research and discoveries to post on the Basic Sciences website, the Vanderbilt University website, or social media
- Monitor and post on social networks
- Curate and report on faculty and trainee publications, appointments, and awards
- Design graphic materials to accompany various communications
- Assist in making marketing and creative materials for our monthly seminar series
- Collaborate with other communication team members as needed to help drive the team’s mission forward
INTERNSHIP DETAILS
- Internship will run from mid-June through August 2022, with the possibility to extend until December pending review and mutual agreement.
- Internship is unpaid, but there is a possibility for subsidizing professional development/networking opportunities
- Part-time (~8-10 hours per week), flexible, and hybrid (some meetings may be in person but day-to-day work is remote, subject to change due to COVID-19 restrictions)
Applications due by noon, Wednesday, June 8, 2022
To apply:
- Fill out the ASPIRE Internship application found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VUSOM_MedCom_Su2022
- Submit your resume, cover letter (which will show your writing style), and include any social media links you manage or own (Twitter, Instagram, websites, etc.) to Ashley Brady (ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu) for review. (Please submit documents as pdfs with your last name_SciComm_VUSOM_Su2022 in the file name and with subject line: ASPIRE Internship: Sci Comm_VUSOM)
- Set up a zoom meeting with Ashley Brady via https://calendly.com/ashley-brady prior to the application deadline.
Your information will then be passed along to the office of the dean and they will contact you directly to schedule an interview.
Please review ASPIRE Internship FAQs: Found here
For further questions, please contact Ashley Brady (ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu).
Eligibility requirements
- Applicants must be a current Vanderbilt University PhD student or a current postdoctoral fellow.
- All PhD students must have completed all coursework for their degree prior to the start of the internship.
- Biomedical PhD students must also have passed their qualifying exams before the application deadline.
- Students and postdocs may not participate in more than one internship at a time. More than one application may be submitted at a single time, but only one position can be accepted.
- If you are not in a department supported by the BRET office, we will also require that you complete a form guaranteeing PI approval to participate in this program. Please contact Ashley Brady at ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu for more information.
- If you are an international student or postdoctoral fellow, your visa status may affect your work eligibility. Please contact Ashley Brady (ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu) to discuss this further.
- Must be authorized to work in the US