RA Internship: Community College Student Portal

Welcome to the Stanford IRiSS Social Science Research Assistant Internship Program offered by the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS), Stanford University in collaboration with Foothill College Internship Office & Dean of Business & Social Sciences, and Mission College Social Sciences.

About

The Stanford IRiSS Social Science Research Assistant Internship Program matches community college students interested in social science research and careers with volunteer internships at social science research labs at Stanford University. You will serve as a research intern with graduate and postdoctoral researchers in psychology, sociology, psychophysiology, education, communications, or another social science related discipline.

Minimum requirements:

  1. Successful completion of one quarter of participation in the Stanford IRiSS Research Experience Program (REP) in a participating community college social science class.
    Note: Please talk to the instructors in psychology and/or sociology at Foothill College or Mission College, if you are unaware of the social science classes that offer REP. Community-college-affiliated applicants with alternative research experience may apply for an exemption. No other exemptions allowed.
  2. Ability to dedicate a minimum of 3 hours per week to a maximum of 15 hours per week by mutual agreement with your internship supervisor. Finals week and college holidays are excluded. For summer internships, a minimum of 6 hours per week is required.
  3. Ability to provide your own transportation to the internship. (Please note: parking fees may be required.) Note: Internships will follow county and college health restrictions for in-person activity, which may result in remote research only.
  4. Ability to participate for three consecutive quarters (fall, winter, spring) for the Academic Year Internship, or 9 weeks for the Summer Internship.
  5. Be enrolled in a San Francisco Bay Area college during the internship period (Summer Quarter excluded).
  6. Be 18 years of age or older.

Application Packet:

Please include your name in the document title, and at the top of each document. Please do not submit multiple screenshots or other multiple documents. Applications that are missing one of the following four items will not be considered. It is your responsibility to follow up with your faculty recommender to ensure the form was submitted.

Submit your application here: RA Intern Application (Link will be active only during the application period; see below.)

  1. A current résumé with all work experience, volunteer experience, formal education and training (PDF Format)
  2. A paragraph describing your research interests in social science, and stating the number of hours per week you can volunteer
  3. Unofficial transcripts for completed courses (PDF or scanned, READABLE image - ONE DOCUMENT). Foothill students, get your transcript from MyPortal
  4. One faculty recommendation (name and email address ONLY). Faculty will receive an emailed link to their Faculty Recommendation Form.

Timeline of Application Process

 Academic Year 2023-24 – Apply in October 2023

Applications open September 26, and are due Monday, October 16, by 5:00 pm.
Interviews will take place between October 19 and October 24.
Offers must be accepted by Thursday, October 26.
Academic Year Internships run from November 9, 2023–May 24, 2024.

Academic Year Internships may be extended into the following Summer Quarter.

You must be enrolled in a San Francisco Bay Area college during the academic year (no enrollment requirement in summer).

Application Tips

You must have completed REP in a previous quarter to apply during the Fall application period. During the Spring application period, you qualify if you completed REP in a previous quarter, or if you are enrolled in a course requiring REP during Spring Quarter. In all cases, you must successfully complete REP before starting your internship.

Faculty recommenders can be any faculty member—it does not have to be a social science faculty member or someone from a particular college.

Please do not provide additional documentation beyond what is requested. It will not be reviewed.

Please be sure to put your name at the top of each document.

Résumé examples and assistance may be provide at your college library. It is fine to list relevant courses and volunteer experiences. We do not expect you to have extensive work experience.

Please be specific in your research interests paragraph. It's helpful for us to know if you have broad interests, but please give at least one specific example as well.

Please note that some researchers have specific requirements for their research project. Therefore, if you do not receive an interview, it is not a reflection on your ability, but can be due to the quirks of the particular research projects being undertaken that year.

If you do not hear from a research supervisor by the notification date, you will not be interviewed. We appreciate your interest in the program. Please try again next year if you will still be enrolled at the community college.

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