Public Health Internship Program

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FALL 2008 IS THURSDAY MAY 1 AT 5PM

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION:
    This internship is for undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students at UT Austin, who are interested in gaining experience in public health laboratory science or epidemiology.

    Student interns will have the opportunity to conduct goal-oriented, semester-long  research projects for university credit under the supervision of public health scientists in laboratory science or epidemiology. In addition to valuable research experience, student interns will gain communication skills by preparing both written and oral presentations about their completed projects. They will present their projects before an audience that includes representatives from Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (ATCHHSD), UT and their fellow interns.

      Students will be selected to participate based on merit via a competitive process without regard to race, color, religion, or gender. Completed applications will be reviewed, and students will be interviewed in person or by telephone. Selected students will be assigned research projects based on the mutual interest of the student and mentor.

     Student interns must complete 180 hours of work for the semester (approximately 12 hours/week) to earn 3 hours of academic credit in BIO 361P, a substantial writing component course. They must provide their own transportation to the internship site and are responsible for obtaining necessary vaccinations, including vaccination against Hepatitis B virus. Training will be provided in safety, computer security awareness, and in the basic principles of patients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality.

STUDENT EVALUATION:
Student performance will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1) attendance, 10%
2) mentor's evaluations, 30%
3) journals, 15%
4) oral reports, 20%
5) written reports, 25%

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
1. U.S. Citizenship
2. Enrollment at the University of Texas at Austin as a degree seeker or post-baccalaureate student.
3. Junior standing or better with a “B” grade point average (GPA) or better, i.e. 3.0 GPA or greater.
4. Prerequisite Coursework: BIO 226R, BIO 226T and BIO 126L with a grade of “B” or better.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
1. All applicants must submit the following to Dr. Leanne Field:

a. A current resume. (Your resume may be more than one page) Sample Resume
b. An original of your most recent official transcript
c. A completed Application Form. Download the Fall 2008 research projects descriptions to rank the projects.
d. Signed Program Agreement Form
e. Signed Release of Student Data Form
f.  Two completed “Letter of Recommendation” Forms with letters from your recommenders in sealed envelopes. One completed form and letter of recommendation should be from a former or current professor. The second could be from a second professor, an academic advisor, an employment supervisor, or a sponsor of a student organization you participate(d) in. Please do not submit references from family or friends.

2. All applicants must be available to participate in an interview.

Internship Questions: Dr. Leanne Field at 475-8897, 471-5105 or field@mail.utexas.edu
Technical Questions: NSCS at 232-0680 or kneeland@cns.utexas.edu