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Fall Semester Internship with Federal Agency (All Majors Welcomed)

Our nation’s current and future challenges make it imperative that government identify, recruit and retain the next generation of public servants. With just under 7% of the full-time federal workforce, under the age of 30, executive branch agencies need young talent to apply their educational training and professional skills to make a difference in society.  

The Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program is recruiting young talent to join the federal workforce in internships with the National Science Foundation and the Small Business Administration. The program places students with critically needed skills into paid internships and aims to develop a diverse pool of young talent for these agencies. 


National Science Foundation Program Benefits 
Selected participants in the program will receive: 
  • A 10-12 week fall internship with National Science Foundation 
  •  Full-time interns (full-time defined as a minimum of 32 hours/week) receive a stipend of $6,500, plus $5,500 for housing and travel expenses. 
  • Part-time interns (part-time defined as 20 hours/week) receive a stipend of $3,250, plus $750 for travel expenses. 
  • Professional development sessions designed to develop participants as public service leaders 
  • Networking and mentorship events with leaders across the federal government  


Small Business Administration Program Benefits  
Selected participants in the program will receive: 
  • A 10-12 week fall internship with Small Business Administration 
  • Full-time interns (full-time defined as a minimum of 32 hours/week) receive a stipend of $4,000. 
  • Professional development sessions designed to develop participants as public service leaders 
  • Networking and mentorship events with leaders across the federal government 

Eligibility Requirements 
 To apply, candidates must be: 
  • U.S. citizens at the time of application submission. 
  • Currently enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program. Undergraduates must be current second-year students/sophomores and above. Graduating seniors are eligible to apply.  
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher  
  • Interested in at least one of the following career tracks: 
  • Public Administration: May include positions in finance, human resources, management/administration, or similar fields. 
  • Science, Mathematics and Engineering: May include positions in the fields of science and health, engineering and math. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds. 
  • Government Contracting and Acquisition. May include positions relating to federal contracting and acquisition, procurement, and business. 
  • Liberal Arts. May include positions in communications, arts, humanities, graphic design, public policy, writing/editing, communications, public affairs and social sciences. 
  • Public Interest Technology: May include positions in operations technology-focused policy, graphic design, writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. This track is open to candidates from both technical and social science backgrounds, but candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology for public good. 

Are all internship opportunities based in the Washington, D.C., area? 
Internship assignments will be available in Washington, D.C. and virtually. Placement location varies by agency and role. More information will be provided to applicants during the selection process.  

Who are the participating agencies? 
The participating agencies for the Fall 2023 Futures Leaders in Public Service Internship Program are the National Science Foundation and the Small Business Administration.  
 
Application Timeline:  
  • June 2, 2023: All completed applications must be submitted. 
  • June – July 2023: Virtual interviews conducted. 
  • July 2023: Selected fellows will be notified of placement. 
  • August 2023: Background check process begins. 
  • August 2023: Virtual orientation. 
  • September 5, 2023: Internship begins. 
  • December 2023: Internship ends by December 1st (internships run 10–12 weeks, based on what is agreed upon with each intern’s host office and supervisor). 


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