Who is Eligible?

The IFCAE internship program is geared primarily toward upper division college undergraduates, graduate students, and recent college graduates.  IFCAE supports diversity in all programs and staffing and anyone interested in the mission of our organization is encouraged to apply.  Students from overseas or outside of Portland are welcome, although IFCAE is unable to provide room and board.


Length of Internship

The length of internships is variable, depending upon the needs and constraints facing the intern and IFCAE. However, internships for one semester or for one academic year are the norm.


Learning Contract

The learning contract outlines what you intend to learn and accomplish during your internship.  It represents an agreement between you, your faculty sponsor (if you have one), and your IFCAE mentor. This contract outlines the responsibilities of all parties and the intentions and expectations for the internship.  It includes learning objectives, specific strategies for achieving those goals, and how you will document and illustrate what you have learned.  It also outlines the criteria for the final evaluation at the internship's conclusion.  This document is drafted by the intern and submitted to the faculty sponsor (if you have one) and your IFCAE mentor for comments. Once this document is agreed upon by all parties, it is signed and used to guide the internship.


Scope of Internship

The internship may be part-time or full-time, and depending upon the student's academic institution may or may not earn credit. Activities may include, but are not limited to, assisting IFCAE in:

• Literature reviews for existing or new IFCAE research projects
• Fundraising and gaining experience with grant-writing
• Outreach activities
• Development and coordination of seminars and workshops
• Fieldwork and data analysis
• Web-design and maintenance

or

• Developing and implementing your own project related to the organization's mission

Compensation

Internships are unpaid positions unless you can arrange funding through another institution, locate grant support, or by other means.


Evaluation

The evaluation criteria will be determined collaboratively by the intern, the faculty sponsor (if any), and the IFCAE mentor.  These criteria will be laid out in the learning contract.  In the spirit of developing collaborative working relationships, IFCAE strongly encourages interns to take an active role in the evaluation of their own performance.  Interns need to clearly identify how they will determine and illustrate to others that they have reached their learning objectives.  This may include keeping a journal, writing a final report, publishing an article, presenting a final public seminar, or some other product.

Important Consideration

If you are not a motivated, disciplined and organized individual you will probably struggle in this position.  We are patient and happy to work with individuals and we can have regular team meetings to help improve your skills and make you feel apart of the organization, but quite often you will likely have to work independently as most everyone at IFCAE keeps a busy schedule.

Application Requirements

Applications are accepted on a rolling-basis until positions are filled.  Interested applicants need to complete and submit the following items:

• Application 1-2 page cover letter.
• Resume or curriculum vitae (3 page max).
• Letter of Recommendation.  Applicants should obtain one letter of recommendation from an individual familiar with your work. The recommendation must include information on 1) the recommender's professional relationship with the applicant, and 2) the context and specifics of your previous work and how it is relevant to the internship.  The letter of recommendation should be mailed directly from the recommender to IFCAE.

The Institute for Culture and Ecology
c/o Internship Coordinator
PO Box 6688
Portland, OR 97228
503-331-6681

Application materials cannot be returned to applicants.

Cut and paste the following into your application and address each bullet:

• Name
• Mailing Address
• E-Mail
• Telephone Number
• School or Institution
• Major and/or Degrees
• Year in School
• Faculty Sponsor
• Department
• Department address
• Faculty sponsor's email or telephone number
• Approximately how many hours/week would you like to spend?
• Are you interested in college credit?
• How did you learn about this internship?
  
• Why are you interested in this internship?  Summarize the strengths you would bring to the internship as well as your expectations and goals for the internship. 350 words max.