The University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention is a new transdisciplinary institute that works to engage the breadth of expertise across the University of Michigan, with input from nonacademic stakeholders, to generate knowledge and advance solutions that will decrease firearm injury in the United States. The Institute fosters research that is mindful of the critical social and historical context of firearms in the U.S., and is inclusive and encouraging of diverse viewpoints, disciplinary perspectives, and approaches. The Institute also serves as a national hub for research that will drive new solutions to the public health crisis of firearm injury, and seeks to train the next generation of leaders in the field. The Institute explores firearm injuries across the lifespan, including suicide, community violence, unintentional injury, school/mass shootings, intimate partner violence, peer violence and police violence, as well as disparities in susceptibility to firearm injuries by race, gender, geographic location, and socioeconomic status.

The Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention is pleased to announce 4 paid internship positions for graduate and upper-level undergraduate students for the summer of 2022. The internships are designed for University of Michigan students interested in firearm injury prevention research and practice experiences, and offer important opportunities to gain mentored research and practice experience. Interns will be matched with a mentor from the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, or other organizations on ongoing firearm injury prevention research or practice projects. Each selected applicant will be provided a stipend of $1,500 per month for three months (for a minimum of 318 hours).

The Institute is seeking applicants from all schools, colleges, and departments at the University of Michigan.

Note: We expect these internships to occur in-person during the summer of 2022 (contingent on COVID-19 guidelines).

Responsibilities of the internship may include:

  • Assisting in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating firearm injury prevention projects
  • Assisting in implementing research methodologies appropriate to the study of firearm injury prevention
  • Conducting literature searches and synthesizing findings in written summaries as required
  • Attending firearm injury prevention-related workshops, seminars, and meetings
  • Assisting in researching legislative policies and initiatives related to firearm injury prevention
  • Developing educational materials and tool kits based on identified needs, including for websites
  • Assisting in communicating and presenting research or policy findings
  • Assisting with grant proposal preparation

Qualifications

  • Must be a University of Michigan student
  • Graduate level applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program or medical school at least through December 2022. Undergraduate level applicants must be enrolled in either their junior or senior year of an undergraduate program during the 2022-2023 school year
  • Interest in and commitment to firearm injury prevention practice, policy or research
  • Ability to work independently, and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Proficiency with computer software applications such as Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint

Application Process and Contact Information

Applicants must apply by December 10, 2021. Decisions will be made and communicated to chosen applicants by the end of January 2022.Interested candidates should complete and submit the following materials:

  1. A document providing the following information: Full name, Home address, Email address, Phone number(s), Program(s) of study that you are currently enrolled in, and date/semester of anticipated graduation
  2. Resume or CV
  3. Two letters of recommendation. These letters of recommendation may be from your academic advisor, current or former employer or supervisor, or a current or former professor or research supervisor.Both letters must be from a faculty member.
  4. A personal statement describing all of the following(in 500 words or less):
    1. Your interest and/or experience in firearm injury prevention research
    2. Your career goals and the relevance of this internship to your career interests
    3. Skills that you bring to the internship
    4. A summary of your previous research or practice experience (esp. related to firearm injury prevention)
  5. A signed and dated statement: “I hereby certify that there are no willful misrepresentations, omissions, or falsification in the statement and other information contained in this application.”

Please be certain that your application contains all required elements prior to submitting.

Submit your full application (as a single document, if possible) via email to firearminjuryprevention@umich.edu by midnight, ET, on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Questions? Email firearminjuryprevention@umich.edu