Summer Scholars Internship Program Activities

The four primary elements of the NSF Summer Internship activity are:

1. Work assignment(s) to be completed by each intern under the supervision of a NSF professional who will assume the role of a mentor
2. Participation in enrichment and professional development activities
3. A final report
4. A formal oral presentation

WORK ASSIGNMENTS

From participating in a proposal review process to sitting in hearings on the Hill, your internship assignments will vary and be subject to change. Be flexible. Mentors will try to involve you to the greatest extent possible in the workings of the entire organization and to choose projects that foster your growth. Mentors will usually afford a substantial level of responsibility to you as an intern. You may be assigned to your own projects; may be less closely supervised than you are accustomed to; may be involved in staff meetings; and may assume responsibilities similar to those of entry-level professionals.

PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES

You will have the opportunity to meet a wide variety of professionals inside and outside of NSF who will inspire you to pursue your career in the fields of science, math, engineering or technology. You will also get to attend special functions available only to you as an NSF intern. Participation in these enrichment activities is mandatory. If you are unable to attend an activity due to a scheduling conflict, your NSF mentor must notify the Internship Coordinator, Sherrie Green.

See our Calendar of Events for this summer!

FINAL REPORT

You are required to submit a typewritten (12 font. 1.5 spacing) report 8 to 10 pages in length excluding the cover page. This report should chronicle your summer experience and give the details of your summer assignment(s). You may want to consider keeping a journal during the entire internship so that the paper writing process will be easier at the end of the session. The report is due on or before August 1 unless you receive an extension from the Internship Coordinator.

FORMAL ORAL PRESENTATION

The presentation schedule will be distributed at a later date in the internship. When you receive the schedule you will notice that other interns will be listed to present to the same audience within a given time span. Please plan to stay and give support to the other students who are presenting at the same time period. Do not read your presentation or go over 15 minutes.

Points to include in your PowerPoint presentation and which should appear in your report are:

• the name and responsibility of the assigned division/office.
• the goal of your project(s), or the project you are working on with others.
• your contribution to the project. If the entire project was yours, explain what you did.
• what you learned from your experience at NSF.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

• TRAINING- You are eligible to take computer-training courses offered by the Division of Information Systems (DIS). The Division of Human Resources (HRM) offers classes on a limited basis. You must receive approval from your mentor prior to registering for all training classes.

• LECTURES- You are welcome to attend various lectures, brown bag seminars, etc. hosted by units within the Foundation. See the announcement channel located on the wall panel next to the elevators, or by accessing it on the NSF WinStation under Docs. Remember to inform your mentor if you decide to attend.

• CREDIT- Students interested in internships should first check with their academic department if they wish to receive credit. Each institution has its own policies and procedures that students need to follow to receive academic credit for completing an internship. The credited internship usually is tied in with a student's academic major. You will need to be responsible for getting the proper approvals and documentation from your home institution and sponsoring organization before credit can be awarded. Collaborate with your mentor to develop a project that you both agree is "credit-worthy".