Location: Operations
Project Number: 3022-32000-013-014-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Dec 1, 2022
End Date: Apr 30, 2026
Objective:
The objective of this proposed Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Kansas Bioscience Organization is to administer an internship program that provides a customizable experience designed to recruit students interested in STEM careers in biological and chemical sciences, engineering, animal sciences, computer and data science, and cyber security. Each year, the program will support undergraduate and graduate students underrepresented in STEM fields for an immersive internship experience. Through this program, we aim to increase the diversity of early career professionals entering careers in Federal agencies with STEM related priorities at the National Bio and Agrodefense Facility at Manhattan, KS.
Approach:
Participants in the Immersive Internship Experiences For Federal Agency Careers will complete either a 10-week summer internship or a 15-week semester long internship. This full-time internship program begins with an orientation session for both the mentors and interns. The session covers expectations, best practice in mentorship, giving and receiving support, and Cooperator provided supplementary support. During the first work week, participants complete 37 hours in their internship role and attend a 2-hour Introduction to the workplace session hosted by the Cooperator and ARS. Participants then attend a 1-hour welcome networking event with ARS staff. In week 2, interns complete 39 hours of internship work and attend a 1-hour training session on Maximizing Mentorship hosted by ARS and Cooperator. Week 3, interns complete 37.5 hours of internship work, attend a 1-hour Leadership Seminar hosted by Cooperator, and attend a half hour networking session. In week 4, interns complete 39 hours of internship work and attend a 1-hour training session on time management hosted by Cooperator. Week 5, the interns complete 38.5 hours of internship work and attend a 1.5-hour networking reception. In week 6, interns complete 39 hours of internship work and attend a 1-hour training session on Career opportunities in ARS hosted by ARS and Cooperator. Week 6, interns complete 37 hours of internship work and attend a 3-hour workshop on Applying to ARS. In week 7, interns complete 39 hours of internship work and attend a 1-hour training session on Career opportunities. In week 8, interns complete 38.5 hours of internship work and attend a 1.5-hour networking reception. In week 9, interns complete 38 hours of internship work and attend a 2-hour resume workshop hosted by Cooperator. Week 10, interns complete 37.5 hours of internship work, attend a 1-hour Leadership Seminar, and attend a half hour networking session. During weeks 11 and 12, interns complete their full 40-hour work week in their internship role. Week 13, interns complete 37.5 hours of internship work, attend a 1-hour Leadership Seminar, and attend a half hour networking session. In week 14, interns complete 40-hours of internship work. Week 15, interns complete 35 hours of internship work, attend a closing reception for 2 hours, and participate in closing focus groups, complete an experiences survey and exit interviews, taking approximately 3 hours.
