Internship for Fall 2011

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program announces internship opportunities for Fall 2011. The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 30, 2011.

Selected interns will be provided with an office space equipped with a computer, phone, access to Smithsonian collections, libraries, and other resources, as well as advice and research guidance from the APA Program and other Smithsonian staff. Smithsonian interns have the opportunity to develop both research and professional skills and to participate in numerous intern activities and events at the Smithsonian.

Applicants will be chosen based on their scholarly qualifications, experience working with APA communities, and the quality of the research project proposed and its suitability to the APA Program's missions and goals. Eligible applicants must be a current college student, recent college graduate (within one calendar year), and/or have been accepted to enter an advanced degree program. Most interns are at the senior or junior undergraduate level, though strongly qualified sophomores and freshmen will be considered. Graduate students are eligible to apply.

To apply, register on the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA) through its website's left navigation, follow the instructions there, and choose the APA Program's internship option. Please note that accepted applicants will need to submit background check forms one month before their start date. Accepted applicants are responsible for arranging their own housing during their appointment.

Most internships at the Smithsonian are unpaid, but interns may receive academic credit through their universities. Students are encouraged to apply for independent grants or scholarships through their schools or outside sources to financially support them during their internship appointment. Funding is available on a competitive basis through the Minority Awards Program from the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Fellowships.

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contact Krista Aniel, Internship Coordinator, for help or more information.

Telephone:
(202) 633-2691

Office Address:
Capital Gallery, Suite 7065
600 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20024
(Google Map)

Graduating Senior Receives the Fulbright Grant

Sarah Tynen, B.A. International Affairs, 2011
Received a 2011-2012 Fulbright award to China and Critical Language Enhancement Award for the study of Chinese at the Middlebury school in Kunming.

Sarah Tynen is a graduating senior in The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Asian Studies and a minor in Chinese Language and Literature. During her time at GW, Sarah has interned for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, GWU Institute for International Economic Policy, and Hudson Institute. From 2009-2010, she studied abroad in Nanjing, China for a year, where she lived with a host family, studied Chinese, and taught English. Upon her return, she was elected Vice President of the GWU Organization of Asian Studies. After learning about Chinese-Middle Eastern and Chinese-Central Asian affairs, she was inspired to write her senior honors thesis on the role of the international Uyghur movement in the ethno-diplomacy of Chinese-Turkish relations. In March 2011, she attended a conference in Sydney, Australia to present her paper, which will be published by the Elliott School this summer. She will be returning to China in August 2011 on a Fulbright award.

The Grant
The Fulbright grant requires a total of 14 months in China: 4 months of language study and 10 months of research. Sarah will first study Chinese for four months at the CV-Starr Middlebury school in Kunming, Yunnan for the Critical Language Enhancement Award of the Fulbright scholarship. Upon completion, she will begin her 10-month Fulbright grant in Nanjing.
For her Fulbright research, Sarah plans to examine the impact of urban renewal on the preservation of tradition and cultural identity, To do so, she will conduct a case study in Old Nanjing, home to some of Nanjing's oldest housing structures and poorest residents. This will focus on the influence of urban redevelopment on the preservation of Nanjing cultural identity and tradition. Under the mentorship of Professor Chen Yunqian of Nanjing University, this study will serve as a tool for both Chinese and Westerners in creating urban development policies.