Ohio State Agroecosystem Management Program (AMP) Undergraduate Internship Program

The future of agroecosystem management hinges on the passion, expertise, and capacity of the next generation of farmers, business owners, scientists, public servants, and organizers. The AMP Agroecology Internship Program is designed to empower and enable undergraduate students to get hands-on experiences, conduct research, and/or build networks and collaborations with farmers and food system actors working to build healthy, resilient, equitable, and just agroecosystems.

These awards are targeted at students currently enrolled in Ohio’s two land grant universities – The Ohio State University and Central State University.

Internship Program Description

This program provides funding for hourly undergraduate internship employment (up to $7,500 for wages and benefits).

This internship can take place during the summer (e.g., a full-time 38 hour/week, 10-week intensive experience), often in conjunction or coordination with CFAES’s Ohio Research Internship Program (ORIP) and OSU’s Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP).

The funds can also be used for an academic year internship (students are allowed to work up to 28 hours/week during academic semesters).

When calculating the amount of an internship request, assume $14.50/hour).

Proposals for an internship can come from either students or faculty mentors.

We encourage student-led proposals where possible, but all students do need to identify and get agreement from a faculty mentor prior to submission.

OSU faculty and OSU or CSU undergraduate students can apply to create internships that enable students to participate in research, extension/outreach, and/or engagement projects that advance the mission of the Agroecosystem Management Program: to ensure that future farming and food systems improve quality of life for all people by being socially and economically viable, just and equitable, biodiverse, sustainable, and resilient.

Proposal formats

Student-initiated proposals should include:

• Cover page
• A description of the proposed internship project & student responsibilities/expectations (500 word max).
• A description of how it advances student goals & AMP mission (200 words)
• The name and contact information for a OSU research or extension faculty mentor to supervise the internship.
• A letter of support and commitment from that faculty mentor.

AMP staff can help connect students to potential faculty mentors for those who do not already have a mentor identified.

Faculty-initiated proposals for internships where a student has not yet been identified should include:

• Cover page
• A description of the proposed internship project & student responsibilities/expectations (500 word max).
• A description of how it advances the AMP mission (250 words)
• A description of the faculty members’ experience mentoring student interns and plans for structured professional development of the intern (250 words)
• An overview of strategies for recruiting students for this internship (250 words)

Logistics

• Two deadlines: September 15 and February 15.
• Funds will be transferred to the faculty mentor’s home department for distribution to the intern. Funds not expended within 12 months of the award will be returned to AMP.

Review Process

• A review committee of 3 OSU faculty will evaluate and rank proposals within 3 weeks of each submission deadline.
• Criteria for selection:
• Feasibility and impact of proposed research
  • Contribution to AMP vision
  • Connection to AMP affiliated faculty preferred.