The HudsonAlpha HBCU Internships are offered in collaboration with Alabama’s office of Minority affairs (AOMA), offers opportunities for undergraduate students at one of Alabama’s Historically Black College or Universities to spend up to 12 months working at HudsonAlpha, developing skills in biotechnology and related fields.
Interns will gain valuable experience working in a research lab, contributing to the scientific endeavors. They will perform routine laboratory tasks, participate in scientific discussions and participate in professional development opportunities aimed at supporting students considering careers in research, education, communications, business that are in the biology and biotechnology space. Students will be required to attend a professional development orientation and complete a final capstone project at the end of the program. The student may be asked to present their work.
AOMA interns at HudsonAlpha will commit to working 10-20 hours per week during the academic school year. During this time, interns will be trained in relevant laboratory skills, gain knowledge about genetics and genomics, and receive professional development meant to support a student as they plan for their future scientific careers. Some colleges or universities will offer credit for Co-Op hours. Please check with your career development office to learn more.
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is located in Huntsville, AL. Interns will be expected to spend 10-15 hours per week in person at our site.
To be eligible for a GOMA-supported internship, students must:
- Attend a designated HBCU in the state of Alabama
- Have at least one semester remaining at their HBCU
- Have completed at least one semester of college level biology coursework
- Be available to work 10-20 hours per week during normal business hours, 8am-5pm, Monday – Friday. Daily schedules will be flexible based on student coursework and will be determined together with mentors.
- Be a U.S Citizen or Permanent Resident
This program launched in 2022 with the goal of providing extended internship opportunities at HudsonAlpha. We are enthusiastic about this new opportunity for local students to gain experience in biotechnology, bioinformatics, agricultural genomics, and education.
In order to be considered for the program, applicants must complete the application. The application requirements include:
- Basic demographic data
- A resume
- A short personal statement (500 words maximum) describing your scientific interests, your long-term goals, the strengths that you bring to the internship, how the internship would benefit you, and anything else you would like us to know about you.
- Two professional references (a college or university faculty member from a scientific field, a mentor with knowledge of your scientific goals, an employer who can speak to your qualifications and how this program would benefit you). Please be sure to contact your references so that they are aware that you have shared their contact information. Your references do not need to provide a letter, but we may contact them by phone or email.
- Unofficial transcript
- Placement Preference Sheet
- Please be sure to indicate which HudsonAlpha Internship(s) you are interested in on the Placement
- Be sure to indicate a Fall start date
To apply, please download and complete this form and email it to info@goma.alabama.gov
Applications will be reviewed by GOMA. Top candidates will be contacted by HudsonAlpha to provide additional information and discuss any details
Applications:
- Open Late July 2023
- Close August 25, 2023
Internship dates:
September 6 – May 24, 2024 with option to extend through July 28, 2024
- Compensation for this program will be $15 an hour.
- Interns will be expected to work 10-20 hours per week during the academic year.
- Interns will work during normal business hours (8 am-5 pm, Monday – Friday).
- Exact hours will be determined based on the class schedule of the intern and their mentor.
- Hours can be flexible to accommodate changes in coursework requirements (e.g. exams), but students will be expected to work a minimum of 10 hours most weeks.
- Cancer Genomics Intern
- Learn critical thinking, experimental design, get experience in molecular biology, genomic technologies for measuring gene expression, and learn about culturing mammalian cells
- Plant Genomics Intern
- Develop and adapt genomic tools to understand gene function and structure in diverse plant species important to agriculture and bioenergy
- Education and Research Intern
- Work with our education outreach team to develop laboratory skills of your own and have the opportunity to teach what you’ve learned to individuals of all ages participating in our education programs.
Sara Cooper
Faculty Investigator
Ava Rose-Schaefer
Human Resources
Darrell Ezell
Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion