ASPIRE Internship: Science Communication Intern, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Basic Sciences (remote)
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., Senior Editor and Writer 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, writing copy for the Basically Speaking newsletter, promoting our monthly Lab-to-Table 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 media on current research, discoveries, and/or events to post on the Basic Sciences website, the Vanderbilt University website, or social media
- Edit content written by other communications interns or team members
- 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 the end of October through May 2024, with the possibility of extending it on a per-semester basis 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 remote
Applications due midnight, Tuesday, October 17th, 2023
To apply:
- Fill out the following ASPIRE Internship Application found here: https://redcap.link/ASPIREInternship_Application
- Submit a resume and any relevant writing samples or documentation projects you’ve been involved with attached at the end of the resume, and cover letter at the RedCap link above. Please submit documents as pdfs with your last name_VUBasicSci_Fa2023 in the file name.
- Set up a zoom meeting with Angela Zito at (angela.zito@vanderbilt.edu) prior to the application deadline.
Your information will then be passed along to the organization who will contact you directly to schedule an interview.
For further questions, please contact Angela Zito (angela.zito@vanderbilt.edu) or Ashley Brady (ashley.brady@vanderbilt.edu).
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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