DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program

ANNOUNCEMENT: Competition Closed

The current competition cycle for this program is now closed. The information presented below is for reference only. The next competition cycle will be announced in the fall on this web site.

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Program Description

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting applications from all eligible college and university students to participate in a summer research experience at federal research facilities. The DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program provides a 10-week summer research experience for rising junior and seniors majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines. Students who demonstrate long-term goals aligned with the mission and objectives of the Department will have the opportunity to conduct research in DHS mission-relevant areas at federal research facilities. The goal of this program is to engage a diverse, educated, and skilled pool of scientists and engineers in HS-STEM issues and to promote long-term relationships between student researchers, DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, and federal research facilities that will enhance the HS-STEM workforce.

DHS has partnered with Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) to manage the application and review process, notification, and implementation of the Program. DHS Science and Technology Directorate will review applications and make final award selections.

Eligibility

United States citizenship as of the application deadline
Cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale averaged over all U.S. institutions attended including Fall 2008 grades
Eligible academic standing at a U.S. accredited college or university defined as one of the following:
- Undergraduate students that will be rising juniors and seniors by summer 2009 and currently enrolled full-time as well as planning to be enrolled full-time as of fall 2009
- Undergraduate students currently enrolled full-time at a community college that will be rising juniors by summer 2009 as well as planning to be enrolled full-time at a 4-year institution as of fall 2009 with first two years of study accepted as transfer credits
Majoring in a homeland security science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (HS-STEM) field with interest in a homeland security research area
Available to participate for 10 consecutive weeks full-time during the summer of 2009
Coverage under a health insurance plan before arriving at the assigned hosting venue and maintenance of coverage during the internship period
At least 18 years of age at the start of the internship period

Award

Stipend of $500 each week ($5,000 for 10 weeks) payable every two weeks.
Transportation expenses for one round trip between the participant’s current address and the assigned federal research facility, with some limitations. The award does not cover moving expenses to the hosting facility.
All living expenses including local transportation, room, board and entertainment are the responsibility of the participants. Participants are responsible for securing their own living space and determining their means of local transportation prior to arriving at the assigned hosting venue.

Expectations

Research must be conducted on site at the assigned federal research facility, as approved by DHS, between the months of May and August. It is anticipated that the research undertaken by the participants will be unclassified.
The full-time research experience will require no less than 40 hours per week, for ten consecutive weeks.
Participants are required to participate in a poster session and/or make an oral presentation to the scientific community at the hosting venue. In addition, an eight to ten page paper about the summer experience and an evaluation form is required at the end of the internship.

Application Deadlines

All application materials are available on this web site.

January 5, 2009 is the deadline for submission of all required documents. For items to be submitted by postal mail, this is a postmark deadline, not a receipt deadline. There is no need to send information via overnight or special delivery.

Required Items:

Application form, including all essay questions and list of facilities and projects in order of preference. Application form must be submitted via postal mail. To protect personal information mark envelope “To Be Opened by Addressee Only”.
Two reference report forms submitted electronically on the student’s behalf by the references to dhsed@orau.org or sent via postal mail by the reference to ORISE by the application deadline.
Official academic transcript from all postsecondary institutions attended submitted directly to ORISE by the academic institutions.
Copy of the Birth Certificate for applicants that cannot provide a current or expired U.S. Passport number on their application form submitted by the applicant to ORISE via postal mail.

We will not accept materials via fax or as e-mail attachments from students or academic institutions. References can submit reference report forms electronically on the student’s behalf. Do not send duplicate items via fax or e-mail. Do not submit resumes, off-prints, manuscripts, video tapes, slides, photographs, or other extraneous materials. Do not submit more than the designated page limit for essay questions in the application. Extraneous materials will not be used in the review of applications.

Evaluation Process

Applications will be evaluated by a DHS panel of scientists and engineers based on the student’s academic record, reference reports, and essays. DHS staff will pay attention to the applicant’s research interests and the need for individuals in the applicant's specific field or sub-field. The final selection of awardees is made by DHS.

Reviewers provide an overall rating based on the following:

Academic Record
Transcripts are reviewed and evaluated in conjunction with information on the student’s academic progress, rigor of their academic program, and other measures of academic success as demonstrated in the application.
Reference Reports
The best reference reports come from professors who know the applicant and can make an informed judgment about the applicant’s fitness for the proposed program of study.
Current Research Interests Essay
The best essay will demonstrate both an ability to define a research problem relevant to the DHS mission and an understanding of how such a problem might be solved. An essay that pays careful attention to defining a research interest that is relevant to the DHS mission can often succeed without much detail on how a research problem would be solved. These essays should contain only original thoughts or other properly attributed information.
Professional Goals Essay
The best essays will demonstrate insight into the career of interest, the steps that may be taken to achieve education and professional goals, and indicate how the internship experience will contribute to achieve those goals.

Submitting Applications and Notification

Application materials that are required to be submitted electronically should be sent to: dhsed@orau.org.

Application materials that are required to be submitted via postal mail should be sent to:

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program, MS-36
PO Box 117
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117

It is anticipated that students selected will be notified by email the week of March 2, 2009. Additionally, selection notification will be made by email to the hosting facilities. All selection notifications will be conducted by ORISE.

Students not selected will be notified by email.

DHS reserves the right to make no awards or to cancel this Program. DHS assumes no liability for canceling the Program or for anyone’s failure to receive actual notification of cancellation.

Other Important Notes

Students currently enrolled at a 2-year institution that are awarded a summer internship, must show proof that they have been accepted at a 4-year institution that has agreed to accept the first two years of study as transfer credit before the internship assignment is confirmed.
No commitment on the part of the participant, DHS, or the federal research facility with regard to later employment is implied or should be inferred by the offer or acceptance of an award.
No deferrals of the internship will be allowed.
All participants are considered guest researchers/investigators and are subject to DHS and hosting facility regulations governing scientists, engineers, other professionals, and students to determine their access to the hosting venue and eligibility for an internship.
As a guest researcher, each participant is responsible for payment of income taxes and is advised to become familiar with the relevant sections of the current tax codes.
Participation in the program is contingent upon the participants obtaining the proper clearance, if required. Depending on the site, applicants are subject to the issuance of a visit authorization clearance. Participants may not be allowed at the internship site until security access approval is given.

For more information: dhsed@orau.org