Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Science and Industry Internships

Internships at museums of science and industry provide invaluable experiences for students and young professionals, offering opportunities for skill development, networking, and career exploration. These internships serve as a bridge between academic knowledge and real-world application, fostering a lifelong love of science and contributing to personal and professional growth.

The Value of Museum Internships

Internships offer a multitude of benefits, including:

Skill Development: Interns gain practical experience and develop transferable skills applicable to future professional and academic environments.
Career Exploration: Internships allow individuals to explore different career paths and discover their passions within the science and industry sectors.
Networking: Interns build connections with professionals in their field, expanding their network and opening doors to future opportunities.
College Admissions Profile: Participation in internships, especially those that are selective and competitive, can significantly boost a student's college admissions profile.

Internship Programs at the Museum of Science and Industry

Museum internship programs offer dynamic opportunities for collegiate and youth participants, fostering engagement, learning, and skill development within the community. These programs often incorporate a goal-setting structure that combines institutional methods with SMART goal elements, encouraging interns to set clear, measurable goals that contribute to both personal growth and organizational impact.

Youth Internship Programs

Youth internship programs are specifically designed for high school students, typically between the ages of 14 and 19. These programs provide authentic work experience and develop transferable skills while contributing to the museum's mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone.

Learning Goals and Outcomes:

A primary learning goal for youth interns is to develop their social and vocational competencies and an understanding of their application to future professional/academic environments. To achieve this goal, interns will:

Read also: Internship Guide

Communicate clearly and professionally with supervisors, colleagues, and museum visitors.

Internship Benefits

Interns may receive a variety of benefits, including:

Free parking in the museum garage
Proximity to public transportation
Free admission to exhibits, shows, and tours
Discounts in the museum store and café

Internship Opportunities Beyond the Museum of Science and Industry

Numerous institutions and organizations offer science and industry-related internships, providing a wide range of opportunities for students and young professionals.

Smithsonian Institution Internships

The Smithsonian Institution offers a vast array of internship programs across its many museums and research centers. These internships cater to various interests and skill sets, providing unique learning experiences and professional development opportunities.

Examples of Smithsonian Internships:

Architectural History and Historic Preservation (AHHP) Internship: This internship, offered through the Office of Planning, Design, and Construction (OPDC), provides practical learning experience in the stewardship of historic cultural facilities. Applicants should have coursework related to architecture, architectural history, materials conservation, historic preservation, and historic building trades.
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) Internships: APAC engages communities in innovative ways, transcending boundaries and barriers.
Peter A. Krueger Summer Internship Program: Offered at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, this program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to develop professional skills and learn about museum practices.
National Air and Space Museum Internship Program: This structured summer program provides firsthand experience working in a museum, offering a one-of-a-kind introduction to museum work or an opportunity to expand on previous experience.
National Museum of African American History and Culture Internships: These internships offer undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates, opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field, gaining practical museum skills and program development experience.
National Museum of Asian Art Summer Undergraduate Internship Program: This eight-week, paid program is open to undergraduate students.
Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE): A 10-week summer internship program hosted at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
NMNH Summer High School Internship Program: This program supports current high school attendees interested in learning about museum work, providing opportunities to work with various departments and explore both science and non-science roles.
Science Writing Internship: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History offers a science writing internship for those interested in developing science communication skills.
Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA): This four-week training program at the Smithsonian provides graduate students with an immersive research experience focused on the use of museum collections in anthropological research.
National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Internships: NMAI offers internships during the Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer terms, providing opportunities to work with one of the most extensive collections of Native American cultural heritage in the world.
National Portrait Gallery Internships: The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery offers formal internships to qualified applicants.
Office of the Registrar Internship: This internship provides an excellent opportunity to learn about editing and museum publishing, working with the museum's collections information database.
Office of Advancement Internships: These internships offer candidates interested in fundraising and development-oriented careers meaningful professional learning experiences.
Office of Educational Technology Internship: This internship provides a unique opportunity to be part of a department working to make digital education resources more accessible and useful.
Office of General Counsel (OGC) Legal Internships: Legal interns work closely with attorneys on diverse topics such as tax, employment discrimination, ethics, and intellectual property.
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) Internship: This internship supports the Smithsonian’s central computing and telecommunications services.
Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education: This internship is awarded to individuals with a demonstrated interest in the field of education and museum leadership.
Women’s History Internship Program: This program offers paid internships that amplify women’s stories to tell a more complete American history.
Smithsonian Associates Internships: These internships offer unique opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children.
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Summer Intern Program: This 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship allows students to take on an astrophysics research project with an SAO or Harvard scientist.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Internships: SERC provides science-based knowledge to meet environmental challenges.
Smithsonian Gardens Internships: These internships provide an array of public garden learning experiences.
Smithsonian Science Education Center Internships: Interns work with curriculum developers to assist in the development of nonfiction stories for Smithsonian Science for the Classroom units.
STRI General Internship Program: This program is for applicants generally interested in STRI’s science to pursue a research experience with one of their scientific mentors based on their interests.

National Park Service Internships

The National Park Service collaborates with many organizations to offer onsite and remote internship and fellowship opportunities, helping to preserve and protect our nation’s natural and cultural resources. These opportunities are available for individuals between 15 and 30 years old, or military veterans who are 35 years old or younger.

Additional Internship Opportunities in Chicago

For students specifically seeking internships in the Chicago area, several programs cater to a variety of interests:

Read also: Internships at History Museums

After School Matters: This organization provides numerous program opportunities to teens in Chicago, including internships at external organizations for those who are at least 16 years old.
Art Institute of Chicago Internships: An ideal opportunity for students passionate about art.
Chicago Philharmonic Internships: Each summer, talented high school students are selected to participate in this internship, receiving mentorship and training in areas like marketing, development, and community engagement.
Animal Care and Conservation Internships: High school students learn how to educate others about animal and conservation sciences while crafting digital messages to engage audiences.
STEAM Internships: Chicago-area teenagers learn about STEAM through project activities in this free summer program.
PRISM Program: A paid opportunity for high school seniors and recent graduates to explore STEM fields and connect with professionals working in STEM fields.
Chicago EYES (Educators and Youth Enjoy Science) on Cancer: A cancer research training program for high school and college students interested in careers in biomedicine.
Data Science Institute Summer Lab Program: An immersive eight-week paid summer research program at the University of Chicago.
Architecture Internships: Participants develop foundational architectural skills and use professional digital design tools.
Discovery Program: Aimed at students with limited access to explore careers in healthcare.
Biological Sciences Internships: Participants are paired with Northwestern faculty members and given a research project, helping advance the understanding of what drives lung disease.
Cancer Research Internships: A free two-week virtual program aims to empower individuals who identify as women to enter the field of cancer research.
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Internships: The CTA provides high schoolers with paid summer internships.
Field Museum Women in Science Internships: Open to Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, or Michigan residents, this is a fantastic opportunity for students interested in the sciences.

Finding and Applying for Internships

Online Search: Utilize online search engines and internship databases to find opportunities that match your interests and qualifications.
Networking: Build your network by asking around and staying in contact with people in your field of interest.
Local Businesses: Look into local businesses, which might have unadvertised opportunities.
College Career Services: Consult with your college's career services department for guidance and resources.

Application Tips:

Meet the Requirements: Ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for each internship program.
Application Deadlines: Pay close attention to application deadlines and submit your application on time.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Experience: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the internship.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Museum of Science is an EEO/AA employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants. The museum does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or any other protected group status.

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