Undergraduate Students

In addition to policy-focused coursework, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy offers an internship program designed to provide Rice University undergraduate students with public policy experience and exposure to a nonprofit environment.

Undergraduate options fall into two general categories: on-campus and off-campus internships.

The Baker Institute Intern Program offers Rice undergraduate students paid internships for up to 10 hours per week in research or administration. Research interns work directly with Baker Institute fellows and scholars on critical national and international policy issues. Administrative interns work with senior staff in a professional office environment, providing essential support in a security-sensitive setting. The work may involve research, writing, editing, event planning and office work including copying, filing, maintaining office supplies, light cleaning, etc. Motivation and dependability are essential requirements.

On-campus internships are available on an as-needed basis. Many of our interns are retained from one semester to another and some remain with us through graduation. Often, we will not know which positions may be required until near the beginning of the semester and not all programs need interns every semester. Applications may be submitted at any time and consist of:

• Cover letter stating area(s) of interest and why you would like to intern for the Baker Institute
• Résumé emphasizing your skill sets
• Letter of recommendation
• Transcript

All applications and questions should be directed to Jason Lyons at MS-40 or by e-mail to jelyons@alumni.rice.edu.

Off-campus internships:
The Baker Institute offers a number of off-campus internships for qualified Rice undergraduates. Eligibility criteria and deadlines vary by program. Please visit the individual program web pages, which are hyperlinked below, for additional details.

In summer 2010:

• The Public Policy and Global Policymaking Program will send 10 students to Cairo University.
  
• The Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer in D.C. Policy Research Internship Program will send nine students to Washington, D.C., to intern for policy groups
  
• Four students will go to Paris and Brussels for eight weeks work at the French Institute for International Relations as part of the Leadership Rice mentorship program.

Additionally, the Baker Institute Energy Forum sponsors undergraduate internships that promote sustainability in developing countries. Under faculty supervision, interns conduct community-level assessments to identify energy, environmental, technological, health, and educational adaptations that, when implemented, provide improved, sustainable and cost-effective adaptive capacity. Internship locations include Maseru, Lesotho, as well as Mexico and Morocco.