Internship Opportunities

The President's Council on Bioethics
Internship Program

The President's Council on Bioethics is charged with advising the President of the United States on bioethical issues that may emerge as a consequence of advances in biomedical science and technology, such as embryo and stem cell research, assisted reproduction, cloning, enhancement of human capacities through genetics and the neurosciences, and end-of-life issues.

The Council accepts qualified applicants who have a demonstrated interest in and awareness of public policy issues and have completed at least their first year of college and are currently enrolled students, to serve as interns for semester, summer, and year-round terms on an uncompensated basis.

The purpose of the program is to provide motivated, hard-working interns with a working knowledge of how a Presidential advisory commission functions. Interns are relied upon to assist all members of the staff with general office functions as well as research on particular projects. Each intern will be assigned a project manager to monitor and oversee research assignments. At the end of the term, the interns will present their completed research assignments to the staff.

Interns need to be people who are committed to completing a task no matter how large or small, who are ready and willing to do whatever needs to be done, and who can manage a variety of responsibilities. Tact and flexibility are a must for successful interns.

Interns are primarily responsible for assisting the research staff, but might occasionally also be expected to help with administrative functions such as answering telephone calls and fielding inquiries, photocopying and faxing, running occasional errands, greeting and assisting visitors, and assisting with research. Interns will be required to assist with Council meetings when these occur.

The President's Council on Bioethics is no longer accepting applications for the Summer 2008 program. There are no intern positions available for Fall 2008 or Spring 2009 or Summer 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Internship Program

Q: How are interns selected?
A: Interns are selected on the basis of their achievements, the quality of their writing samples and their applications.

Q: What is involved in the application process?
A: You will be sent an application that will require you to send us a resume, references, a brief description of your goals, response to an essay question and a writing sample. All will be notified of the status of their application after internship selections are made.

Q: Who is eligible to apply for internships?
A: Any student who has completed at least one year of undergraduate school. Graduate students (Master's or Ph.D. level) , including law students and medical students, may apply as long as they are currently enrolled.

Q: Can I be an intern if I am no longer a student?
A: No. All interns must be currently enrolled students. Graduating seniors are eligible if they are accepted by and scheduled to attend some form of graduate school or institute of higher learning after their internship. Prospective interns must provide a form from the school they plan to attend to verify their status.

Q: How long is the internship?
A: Summer internships usually run from the beginning of June through mid-August. Fall internships start in September and continue through December; spring internships begin in January and end in May. Summer interns work Monday through Friday, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.; fall and spring interns typically work part time, in order to accommodate class schedules. On your application, please indicate your available days and times; we recognize that you may have previous academic or work engagements, and we try to resolve any conflicts.

Q: What do interns do?
A: Interns are assigned projects that often reflect the Council's current areas of interest. Interns are given projects by members of the research staff. At the conclusion of the internship, each intern gives a presentation of the completed project to the staff.

Please consult the “Meetings” section of our website http://www.bioethics.gov/meetings/ to familiarize yourself with the Council’s most recent areas of interest. The information there will give you a better indication of some of the topics to which you may be assigned.

Q: Does the internship provide housing?
A: Interns must provide their own housing. Because Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has a large student base, many apartments and homes are available for short-term leases. There are websites which can help you find apartments in the District, as well as the surrounding towns.

Q: Are Council internships paid?
A: No, they are not.

Q: Does the Council offer scholarships or grants?
A: We do not offer scholarships or grants. Please contact your student loan office for more information.

Q: Can interns work with a specific Council Member?
A: The office of The President’s Council on Bioethics is located in Washington, D.C. It has no satellite offices. If you are interested in working with one of our Council Members, you should contact the Council Member directly—our office cannot provide you with an internship with a Council Member.

Q: How do I request an application?
A: To request an application, email Emily.Jones@bioethics.gov

Q: How should I submit my application?
A: You may choose one of two ways to return your completed application for review: e-mail or fax.

E-mail: Please submit your application to our Executive Administrator, Emily Jones, at Emily.Jones@Bioethics.gov.

Fax: Please send your faxes to the attention of Emily Jones at (202) 296-3528.

We look forward to hearing from you!