Summer Activities

Participants in the SCEC/USEIT and SCEC/SURE internship programs will come together several times during the summer, in much the same way that SCEC scientists work collaboratively. At each meeting, some interns will present their summer projects to date, so that all may get experience with presenting and articulating their work.

During the last week of June, 2007, a SCEC intern retreat will be held. The group will make short excursions to experience some of southern California's active – and exciting – geology. SCEC earth scientists will rendezvous with the group at various excursion stops. Also on this trip, SCEC IT scientists will host visits to their facilities, and introduce the group to a whole other world of leading edge science.

Other activities for all interns will be held at SCEC headquarters at the University of Southern California, and will include a workshop about personality type in the workplace, presentations by visiting scientists, a career options forum. and visits with past interns on Alumni Fridays. At the conclusion of the summer, students who successfully complete their internships will present their research in posters and demos at the SCEC Annual Meeting (Palm Springs, CA, September 9-12, 2007).

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must be:

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
• OR currently enrolled at the University of Southern California (if not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident).

Applicants must also be:

• continuing, undergraduate students. Regrettably,
• If you have not yet started college, you are NOT eligible...yet.
• If you graduate in spring, 2007, or earlier, you are NOT eligible.

Shortly after beginning the program, each intern must submit to SCEC a short work plan, outlining his/her summer project.

Near the end of the summer, each intern must submit an abstract to the SCEC Annual Meeting, and make a poster for that meeting.

From time to time during the summer, and a few weeks after the program concludes, interns must complete short questionnaires about their personal experiences within the program.

Your internship should be the main focus of your summer. If you intend to take a class or work a job, SCEC must agree that it will not be too demanding of your time or energy.

SCEC internships consist of several phases. For an intern to advance to the next phase, that intern must successfully complete the current phase.

• For SCEC/SURE interns, the phases will depend on the particular project and mentor.
• For SCEC/USEIT interns, there are five phases:
Phase I. Training, 3 weeks, May 21 - June 8.
Phase II. Project foundation, 3 weeks, June 11 - June 29.
Phase III. Project extension, 2 weeks, July 2 - July 13.
Phase IV. Project dissemination, 2 weeks, July 16 - July 27.
Phase V. SCEC Annual Meeting, Sep 9 - 12.

This may seem daunting but it is actually quite easy to have a successful internship. Your success will not be measured by your accomplishments, but rather by the way that you approach your internship. Your success will be evaluated based on your conduct, attitude, and level of effort. Successful interns:

• Comprise the vast majority of interns in our program;
• Understand that they are SCEC representatives throughout the summer and display exemplary conduct at all times;
• Treat all others with respect and courtesy;
• Contribute positively to meetings, trips, and other activities;
• Work hard throughout the summer; and
• Remain open to expanding personal horizons.

SCEC/USEIT only:

SCEC/USEIT interns work 10 weeks from May 21 - July 27. All USEIT interns must be at SCEC for the first 2 weeks (May 21 - June 1), the intern retreat (last week in June), and the final two weeks (July 16 - 27). All USEIT interns have three holidays during the summer program:

• Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day);
• Wednesday, July 4 (Independence Day); and
• One other day of the intern's choosing, that cannot be a day of required attendance.

Without exception, SCEC/USEIT interns are required to work in the team computer lab on the USC campus from 9a - 4p each M-F. Chronically late or absent interns will be dismissed from the program. Do not apply if you cannot be in the lab from 9a - 4p each M-F.

Deadlines and Timelines

Important!! If we offer you an internship, you will have two weeks to accept or decline. We understand that you may be applying to multiple summer programs and we want you to find the one that best suits you. We strongly encourage you to do fact-finding early, and decide -- well before February! -- what you will do if you receive multiple offers.

For more information contact:

Sue Perry
Executive Director, SCEC/ELCA
Office of Experiential Learning and Career Advancement
e-mail: perry@usc.edu