EXPAND Trainees will complete an internship to gain professional experience. Internship opportunities can be with a variety of organizations including but not limited to businesses, government agencies, research firms, and non-profit employers.

Internships will typically be done in the third or fourth year but may be done anytime. They include in-person or virtual part-time or full-time internships.

EXPAND will subsidize any needed travel and temporary relocation expenses.

The Career Design course, hosted by the PhD Plus Program, is recommended to help EXPAND Trainees identify optimal internships.

Mentors will also work with Trainees through the Individual Development Plan (IDP) process and dissertation development to ensure that internship experiences integrate research and long-term career goals.

Returning interns will present their internship experiences to the life sciences graduate student community during a yearly Open House enabling starting students to start imagining an array of career options.

Goals of EXPAND Trainees During Internships:

• ·     Make a positive contribution to the partnering organization
• ·     Gain experience in the application of scientific skills to problem solving in a non-academic workplace
• ·     Experience the pace and breadth of projects in their partner organization
• ·     Develop relationships that expand their professional network and potential career options

Identifying and Applying for Internships:

EXPAND partners with the PhD Plus Program to ensure EXPAND Trainees are prepared to identify potential internship interests and prospects.

Trainees will meet with PhD Plus staff and the EXPAND Program Coordinator in the Fall semester to have an initial discussion about what career sectors they are interested in, and to determine whether they have started researching companies or reached out for informational interviews.

While Trainees are encouraged to do some research on their own, they also have access to UVA's Career Center to make connections with employers who are actively looking for graduate student interns.

Trainees will continue to work with the PhD Plus staff and the EXPAND Program Coordinator in the early Spring semester to finalize their internship opportunity.

While it is normally expected that internships will be completed in the summer, we are flexible with when internships are completed during the fellowship year, as we understand that many students have field work that requires their presence at specific times of the year.

For help in finding an internship that aligns with your career goals, please schedule an advising appointment with Melanie Sinche at PhD Plus.

Students who are NOT funded EXPAND Trainees may be eligible to receive financial support for internships through the PhD Plus Internship Program.

Previous Internship Collaborations