Undergraduate Internship Program

The Carolina Population Center hosts a select number of undergraduate interns each summer. Interns work alongside faculty and predoctoral students on team-based research projects. Interns also receive training in statistical programming, participate in professional development workshops, and can choose to present their work at research symposia at the end of the summer. This is a paid internship.

The CPC program has been identified as a model at UNC and has received funding from the Population Association of America (PAA), the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the UNC-CH Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research.

Now Accepting Applications for the Summer 2023 Internship Program

We are currently accepting applications from undergraduate students from underrepresented groups^[1] and/or those with a demonstrated commitment to diversity with interests in the population, health, and spatial sciences for research internships during Summer 2023. The internship program provides a research and professional development experience for undergraduate students interested in population focused graduate training and careers. Interns will be expected to work full time (35 hours/week) from Monday, May 22 to Friday, July 14 (8 weeks). Faculty may, at their discretion, choose to offer additional paid work beyond the formal program end date. We expect that this summer’s internship experience will be primarily in-person, although some projects may have opportunities for hybrid work. All interns will be provided with office space at CPC.

CPC interns will work with faculty and staff on one specific Center-based research project (options for 2023 are described below). Applicants should indicate in their application the project(s) to which they are applying and how that project relates to their interests.

• Epidemiology of Tick-Borne Diseases in North Carolina (with Dr. Ross Boyce)
• Agent-Based Modeling of the COVID-19 Pandemic in North Carolina (with Dr. Paul Delamater)
• Demographic History of North Carolina (with Dr. Barbara Entwisle)
• Dynamics of Extreme Events, People and Places (with Dr. Elizabeth Frankenberg)
• The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (with Dr. Robert Hummer)
• Effects of Anti-Black Racism on the Brain and Immune System (with Dr. Keely Muscatell)
• Family Matters (with Dr. Lisa Pearce)
• Disparate Impacts of Salinity Intrusion on People and Communities in Eastern North Carolina (with Dr. Conghe Song)
• Bachpan Birth Cohort (with Dr. Asia Maselko)

Eligibility

Applicants to the Summer Undergraduate Internship Program must meet the following eligibility requirements.

• Undergraduate students with junior or senior academic standing in Fall 2023
• From a group that is underrepresented^1,2 (underrepresented minorities¹and/or first-generation college students²) in the social, spatial, and/or health sciences, and/or those with a demonstrated commitment to diversity
• Strong academic record; minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA
• A minimum of 3 credit hours in basic statistics (excluding AP credit)
• Serious intent to pursue graduate (as opposed to professional) studies

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following items through the online portal by February 17, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

• Transcripts from all colleges attended (unofficial and scanned copies will be accepted)
• A statement (2 pages maximum) describing the following:
  • Reasons for your interest in the summer internship program at CPC
  • Your eligibility
  • Your post-graduation plans
  • Your first, second, and third project choices from the list above, the reasons why you are interested in each, and relevant skills.
• Current resume or CV
• One letter of recommendation from a UNC faculty member who is familiar with your academic work. This letter should be sent directly Abigail Haydon (ahaydon@email.unc.edu) via email by February 17^th, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (EDT)

Questions?

For questions about the program or the application process, please contact Abigail Haydon, Training Program Manager.

Alumni

Since 2003, 82 intern alums have participated in the program. Of the 82, 14 are currently enrolled in graduate programs; 3 are in masters programs; 8 are in doctoral programs (UNC-CH; UNC-CH School of Pharmacy; Harvard University; Howard University); 1 is in dentistry school; and two are in medical school. Thirty six have completed graduate work (23 masters [primarily terminal degrees]); 3 JDs; 2 MDs; and 8 PhDs – [2 are now assistant professors (UNC-CH and the University of Rochester); one recently deceased alumna served as an assistant professor at the Univ of Oregon]).

¹ Individuals with disabilities or those from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in the population, health, and spatial sciences on a national basis (see http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd); first generation college student (applicant’s mother and father did not complete an undergraduate degree).