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Opportunities

Below is a list of current internship opportunities at the Smithsonian. You can use the box  below to search for internships by keywords or topics. Use the drop-down menu to see opportunities for individual units or museums. Check back regularly as opportunities change.

Central Smithsonian Wide Internships

Katzenberger Foundation Art History Internship

Central Smithsonian Wide Internships

2023 Timeline

Application opens: January 9

Deadline for applications: March 6

Benjamin Lawless Internship

Central Smithsonian Wide Internships

Application opens: January 4
Deadline for applications: March 15,  11:59PM ET

Award notification: April 15
Length of Internship: 8 consecutive weeks (summer)

Location
Washington, DC

Archives of American Art

Internships at the Archives of American Art

Archives of American Art

The Archives of American Art offers internships year-round to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs who wish to learn and gain professional experience in various fields including archival science, information management, museum studies, art administration, art history, and cultural studies.

Asian Pacific American Center

Internships at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Asian Pacific American Center

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) believes that a great 21st-century museum is more than a building. We must engage communities in surprising and innovative ways, transcending boundaries and barriers. We are a migratory museum that brings Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander history, art, and culture to you through innovative museum experiences online and throughout the United States.

Location
Washington, DC

Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Internships at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Every year, the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage involves over a hundred interns in our various activities. We offer internships year-round in various fields, including folklore, cultural anthropology, ethnomusicology, linguistics, museum studies, arts administration, graphic and web design, videography, marketing, social media, and library science. Internships can take place remotely or in Washington, D.C.

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Peter A. Krueger Internships at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

The Peter A. Krueger Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to gain professional skills and learn about museum practices at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Cooper Hewitt is the only museum in the United States that is exclusively devoted to historic and contemporary design. Interns will acquire in-depth knowledge and develop an enriched understanding of how the museum fulfills its mission to educate, inspire, and empower people through design.

Location
Hybrid; New York

National Air and Space Museum

Teacher Professional Development Programs

National Air and Space Museum

The intern will assist with the creation of teacher resources for TII and local educators, including integrating authentic data and technology into their classrooms. The intern will help review and log applications for TII 2023 and assist with planning of the 2023 institute. The intern will assist with a plan for 2023-2024 professional development.

Function
Education

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Robert Frederick Smith Internships

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Robert Frederick Smith Internship Program seeks to reverse the trend of underrepresentation of African Americans and other minorities in museum professions through well-paid internships at NMAAHC as well as at select cultural institutions across the country. Now accepting applications for Summer 2023 opportunities.

Social Justice Oral History Conversations Internship

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Social Justice Oral History Conversations Internship
Part-Time Hybrid Internship (less than 20 hours per week)
Time period: March 20-October 2023
Stipend: $5,000

Summer 2023 Internships at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Internships at the National Museum of African American History and Culture offer undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates opportunities to work closely with professionals and scholars in the museum field. The museum provides a dynamic learning environment and access to supportive mentors that help interns reach their educational and professional goals. Interns can gain practical museum skills and program development experience in a variety of positions! Summer 2023 opportunities include:

National Museum of American History

Lemelson Center Archival Internship

National Museum of American History

The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, offers a full-time, 10 week, archival internship opportunity for one graduate student each summer. The internship stipend is $7,000. Housing, benefits, and transportation are not provided.

THE INTERNSHIP WILL:
Enable new professionals to understand, identify, and manage the historical records of American invention and innovation

Location
Washington, DC

National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery)

Cheng-Harrell Graduate Internship

National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery)

Application deadline: February 24, 2024

Cheng-Harrell Graduate Internship
Paid, Part-time (20 hrs/week)
Academic Year 2024-25: September 9 – December 20, 2024 (Fall semester) and January 20 – May 2, 2025 (Spring semester)

National Museum of Natural History

Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE)

National Museum of Natural History

Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE) is a 10-week summer internship program hosted at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. NHRE interns work closely with scientific mentors to complete independent research projects in Earth Science, Biology, and Anthropology.

The internship is full time, 40 hours per week.

Previous research experience is not required, and we encourage applications from minorities and members of other groups underrepresented in the sciences.

Location
Washington, DC

Spring 2024 Ocean Science Writing Internship

National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History seeks a science writing intern interested in developing science communication skills in an active communications and public affair office. The intern will help create original content to be published on the Ocean Portal website (https://ocean.si.edu), and participate in other communication activities, including social media campaigns. 

Spring 2024 Paid Science Writing Internship

National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History seeks a science writing intern interested in gaining experience in an active communications and public affairs office. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional portfolio and learn how to present science and natural history stories to the public in relevant and engaging ways. 

National Museum of the American Indian

Internships at the National Museum of the American Indian

National Museum of the American Indian

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) offers internships during the Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer terms at the museum in Washington, D.C.; at the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, MD; and at the museum (George Gustav Heye Center) in New York City. The NMAI internship program provides educational opportunities focusing on cultural transmission; professional development; meaningful departmental projects; and networking with museum professionals.

National Museum of the American Latino

Latino Museum Studies Program Undergraduate Internship

National Museum of the American Latino

The Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) Undergraduate Internship is a museum career pathway program designed to increase hands-on training opportunities for Latina, Latino, and Latinx-identifying undergraduate students interested in art museum careers. The program focuses in non-curatorial museum roles including the areas of conservation, museum education, interpretation, digital culture, collections management, and exhibition design, fabrication and production.

Location
Washington, DC

Young Ambassadors Program

National Museum of the American Latino

The Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a national college preparatory and leadership program for graduating high school seniors that fosters the next generation of community-conscious Latino leaders in the arts, sciences, and humanities via the Smithsonian Institution and its resources. Selected applicants will participate in a weeklong pre-professional and pre-collegiate seminar in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian focusing on Latino perspectives with peers from all over the nation.

National Portrait Gallery

Internships at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery

Are you seeking a creative and exciting museum internship? The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery offers formal internships to qualified applicants. A Smithsonian internship is a prearranged, structured learning experience that takes place during the fall, spring, or summer semester. The experience should be relevant both to the intern's academic and professional goals and to the professional disciplines represented at the Portrait Gallery.

National Zoo

Internships at the National Zoo

National Zoo

The National Zoo offers a variety of internship opportunities from animal care, veterinary medicine, IT, communications, animal enrichment, animal behavior, conservation, GIS One Health, nutrition, genetics, and more.   We have opportunities at the Zoo in Washington, DC and our Conservation Biology Center in Front Royal, Virginia as well as Hawaii. 

Office of Advancement

Office of Advancement Internship Program

Office of Advancement

The Office of Advancement is pleased to offer internship opportunities for candidates interested in fundraising and development-oriented careers. Through these internships the Office of Advancement seeks to: - Provide interns with meaningful professional learning experiences. - Ensure interns supportive opportunities for growth and inclusive access to the advancement field through mentorship.

Office of Educational Technology

Michelle Knovic Smith Education Technology Internship

Office of Educational Technology

Michelle Knovic Smith (1950–2021), as an educator, mentor, and leader, in her more than three decades at the Smithsonian, pioneered innovative and effective approaches to the Smithsonian's mission of the “diffusion of knowledge.” First, as Publications Director for the Institution’s teacher magazines, Art to Zoo and Smithsonian in Your Classroom, Michelle developed publications and distribution strategies that reached every school in the country.

Office of General Counsel

Smithsonian Office of General Counsel Internship

Office of General Counsel

Legal interns in the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) work closely with attorneys whose work covers such diverse topics as tax, employment discrimination, ethics, imports/exports, federal appropriations, intellectual property, and environmental law. Interns will gain exposure to the Office's diverse law practice through litigation and transactional work, client counseling, case law research, preparing legal memoranda, reviewing agreements, surveying state law, and researching legislative history.

Office of Government Relations

A History of Women in the United States Congress

Office of Government Relations

A History of Women in the United States Congress is an 8-week summer internship program hosted at the Smithsonian Office of Government Relations in Washington DC. Funded by the American Women’s History Initiative Collaboration and Community Fund, this internship is open to non-senior undergraduates, who have a strong interest in women’s history, politics and who have at least a 3.0 GPA. 

Location
Washington, DC

Office of Protection Services

Office of Public Affairs

Public Affairs Internship

Office of Public Affairs

This internship is in the Smithsonian’s central Office of Public Affairs. It provides hands-on experience in area of public relations. Regular responsibilities include conducting research, creative and strategic planning for communications plans and media relations.

Office of Safety, Health & Environmental Management, Fire Protection Division

Fire Protection Engineering Internship at the Smithsonian Institution

Office of Safety, Health & Environmental Management, Fire Protection Division

The primary purpose of the Fire Protection Division (FPD) internship is to provide a practical learning experience in the areas of life safety and fire protection engineering. Interested students should be enrolled in an engineering related major, from an accredited college or university, and willing to learn how to conduct facility assessments, perform design reviews, and provide construction oversight for fire protection and life safety systems.

Office of Sponsored Projects

Administrative and Financial Internships on Grants and Contract Management

Office of Sponsored Projects

Interns with the Office of Sponsored Projects are unpaid internships. Interns participate in projects that directly or indirectly help Smithsonian research, curatorial, and educational staffs prepare proposals and administer grants and contracts. Emphasis is placed on developing special short and long-term projects that will be beneficial and of mutual interest to both the office and the intern.

Office of the Chief Information Officer

OCIO’s Digitization Program Office Internship Program

Office of the Chief Information Officer

The Digitization Program Office (DPO) is a branch of the Smithsonian’s Office of the Chief Information Officer.  DPO is tasked with increasing the quality, quantity and impact of Smithsonian digitized collections. With 155 million objects and specimens, 156 thousand cubic feet of archival materials, and 2 million library volumes (which are housed in 41 facilities, 19 museums and 9 research centers), the scale and diversity of Smithsonian collections presents a unique digitization challenge.

The Office of the Chief Information Officer Internship Program

Office of the Chief Information Officer

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) provides the Smithsonian’s central computing and telecommunications services; provides leadership in information technology throughout the Institution in support of systems planning and development, communications, and computer-related training; and provides policy and guidance to ensure the integrity and security of Institutional automated data.

Function
Computer & IT

Office of the Under Secretary for Education

The Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education

Office of the Under Secretary for Education

The Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education is funded through an endowed fund in memory of Claudine K. Brown, an educator and influential leader of the Smithsonian. Awardees of the Brown Internship are appointed based on a demonstrated interest in the field of education and museum leadership.  Internships are available for college students, including under-served youth. 

Background

Function
Education

Smithsonian Affiliations

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Internships at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum has two internship programs: 1.) The Advanced Level Program:  a two-semester (fall/spring) museum operations program for graduate students, exceptional college seniors and individuals with a four-year college degree, with previous museum or art institution experience. All participants receive stipends.

Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative

Because of Her Story Cohort Internship Program

Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative

As part of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative (AWHI), the Smithsonian will host a cohort of up to 15 Because of Her Story (BOHS) undergraduate or recently graduated interns June 12--August 4, 2023. Through a variety of experiential learning opportunities, including a hands-on internship at a designated Smithsonian unit, and a curriculum of structured cohort activities, BOHS interns will develop familiarity and experience with museums and research units and American women’s history.

Smithsonian Associates

Social Media Internship at Smithsonian Associates

Smithsonian Associates

Interns with Smithsonian Associates are offered unique opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children, while contributing extensively to one of the world's great cultural institutions. Intern projects are designed to benefit both the Institution and complement the intern's own interests, skills, and experience.

Special Events and Adult Education Programming Internship at Smithsonian Associates

Smithsonian Associates

Interns with Smithsonian Associates are offered unique opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children, while contributing extensively to one of the world's great cultural institutions. Intern projects are designed to benefit both the Institution and complement the intern's own interests, skills, and experience.

Intern Duties: Promotional and programmatic support for the large scale public events, with a special focus on after-hours, Smithsonian-wide programs for young professionals.

Youth and Family Programs Summer Internship at Smithsonian Associates

Smithsonian Associates

Interns with Smithsonian Associates are offered unique opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children, while contributing extensively to one of the world's great cultural institutions. Intern projects are designed to benefit both the Institution and complement the intern's own interests, skills, and experience.

This internship offers the unique opportunity to immerse in all the Summer children’s’ program offered by Associates. Looking for a team of interns both on in person and virtual. Duties will vary based on location.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Climate Change Summer Internships at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hand-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education. The program enables students to work on specific projects while getting experience in valuable lab techniques all under the direction of the Center’s professional staff. The program is tailored to provide the maximum educational benefit to each participant.

Location
Edgewater, MD

Internship Opportunities at SERC

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hand-on experience in the fields of environmental research and education. The program enables students to work on specific projects while getting experience in valuable lab techniques all under the direction of the Center’s professional staff. The program is tailored to provide the maximum educational benefit to each participant.

REU Summer Internships at SERC

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

We are excited to invite applications from undergraduate students to participate in a National Science Foundation supported summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program focused on global change ecology. These internships are available as remote or in-person opportunities at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center located in Edgewater, MD (10 miles south of Annapolis).

Smithsonian Gardens

Archives of American Gardens Internship

Smithsonian Gardens

The Archives of American Gardens internship provides opportunities to perform various archival collections management tasks including cataloging and digitization. This experience will help interns gain practical experience in preparing archival collections for research access. Assignments focus on cataloging garden files and images by describing their content according to recognized data standards, digital asset management, assisting with basic research and reference duties, and developing a range of outreach materials.

Education and Outreach Internship

Smithsonian Gardens

This internship provides the opportunity to learn various components related to developing education and outreach materials for curators, staff, and the general public. As both a public garden and open-air museum, Smithsonian Gardens’ educational programming encompasses art, history, science, and culture. Interns acquire hands-on experience, complete meaningful projects with lasting value to the Smithsonian, and get an inside view of the Smithsonian Institution.

Internship with Smithsonian Gardens

Smithsonian Gardens

Smithsonian Gardens (SG) provides an array of learning experiences through its internship program thanks to the wide diversity of services and programs it offers at the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex. Interns will learn skills in a broad range of horticultural endeavors from professional staff that can provide a strong practical background to emerging professionals wanting to enter the public gardening world.

The following intern programs are operating onsite, and hybrid format that are accepting applications for Summer 2023:

Landscape Architecture Internship

Smithsonian Gardens

The internship is ideal for students majoring in Landscape Architecture who are looking forward to a career in a public or private design organization. The internship is an in-person opportunity to assist the Landscape Architects with various projects that develop out of current design needs or multi-year projects. Intern projects typically involve the development of designs, presentations, and/or planning reports. All assignments require effective project management skills.

Function
Design
Location
Washington, DC

Orchid Collection Internship

Smithsonian Gardens

Internships at Smithsonian Gardens are designed for students who seek a valuable learning experience in a public garden with a diverse workforce. Interns will work closely with horticultural professionals to acquire hands-on experience and complete meaningful projects with lasting value to SG.

Location
Washington, DC

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Education Internship

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

For Summer 2023, the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Education department is seeking an intern to help relaunch and expand our resource-lending kit, Traveling Trunks. These tactile multimedia kits are packed full of resources from across the Smithsonian Institution and deliver immersive educational experiences for a middle school audience. Through touch, tech, sight, and sound, Traveling Trunks creates a screen-free sensory rich environment.

Function
Education, Library

Internships at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives welcomes current or recent undergraduate and graduate students who wish to gain experience in archives, museum libraries, or related fields. Internships are typically eight weeks in length, often hosted during the summer. Part-time options, practicums and for-credit internships may be available. Opportunities vary and are based on available programs and projects. 

Professional Development Internship

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

This long-standing internship program offers a unique opportunity for aspiring librarians and archivists to work alongside Smithsonian Libraries and Archives staff. Interns in this program acquire crucial skills, knowledge, and experience to prepare them for their future careers. This program is geared towards graduate students in a Master of Information Science program or similar.

Function
Library
Location
Washington, DC

Summer Scholars Internship

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives provides students in library, archival, information science, and related disciplines a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with expert libraries and Archives staff to acquire the latest skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience needed for today’s information and cultural heritage workplace. Through this program, we aim to help diversify the library, archive, and museum fields by providing guided learning opportunities to students and other qualified candidates from varied economic, cultural, social, and educational backgrounds.

Function
Library
Location
Washington, DC

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Communications & Marketing Intern - Curriculum, Digital Media, and Communications, Smithsonian Science Education Center

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Project Description: Intern will work with Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Communications & Marketing Team to assist in the development of SSEC communications and marketing materials and assist in communications dissemination, strategy, and asset management. Interns will learn the inner workings of a daily communications team and how to apply developed marketing materials to enhance the SSEC brand.  Learning objectives include:

Research Assistant Intern - Professional Services Division, Smithsonian Science Education Center

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Project Description: Intern will work with the Professional Services team of the Smithsonian Science Education Center to support the evaluation of two DEAI projects: STEM Diversity and Zero Barriers in STEM Education. Learning objectives include:

Location
Virtual

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom Intern - Curriculum, Digital Media, and Communications Division, Smithsonian Science Education Center

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Project Description: Intern will work with Smithsonian Science Education Center curriculum developers to assist in the revision of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom modules. Interns will learn how to apply knowledge of science content, research, and pedagogy to assist in developing high-quality resources for teaching and learning. Learning objectives include:
• Assisting in the revision of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom modules. This task may include writing, editing, and proofreading as part of a team of writers, editors, education specialists, and scientists.

STEM4SD Intern - Professional Services Division, Smithsonian Science Education Center

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Project Description: Intern will work with educators, researchers, staff, SSEC partners, and experts in the field of STEM Education for Sustainable Development (STEM4SD) to support the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals project and the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST). Learning objectives include:

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

STRI Internship Program

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Competitive program funded by the Smithsonian and generous donors open to all nationalities.
The purpose of the STRI General Internship Program is to provide a place for internship applicants who are generally interested in STRI’s science to pursue a research experience with one of our scientific mentors based on their interests. Interns are selected based on merit and potential for achievement.
 

Location
Virtual; Panama; Hybrid

STRI-SENACYT Internship Program

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Panama’s science and technology secretariat (SENACYT) provides internships to Panamanian students at local universities (undergraduates, recent graduates, and Master's students) so they can work alongside STRI scientists.

This program is designed to enhance intellectual development and give students real world experience working alongside professionals here at STRI.

Location
Virtual; Panama; Hybrid

COVID - 19 Information

The Smithsonian Institution may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. More information can be found on our COVID-19 Information Page.

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