interning at apa
Jenn Belding was selected to be the 2008 American Psychological Association's summer intern, a highly competitive and prestigious position. Reflecting on this experience, Jenn writes:
This summer, I had the opportunity to work for the American Psychological Association’s Science Directorate as a summer intern. As a recipient of Psi Chi’s APA Science Directorate Internship Grant, I was able to spend 10 weeks in Washington, D.C., working to advance psychological science. I went to APA expecting to be a glorified secretary, but the work I did this summer was far more important.
The Science Directorate works to advance knowledge and discovery of psychological principles through research. To this end, they provide numerous opportunities for individuals at every level of the educational process. I was lucky enough to meet the 12 students that were selected for the Summer Science Fellowship, a prestigious summer research experience for undergraduates. I assisted in coordinating the meetings for these students at the APA headquarters while also being able to discuss the research they spent their summer conducting. Additionally, I was able to attend a few days of the Advanced Statistical Training in Psychology course that the Science Directorate sponsors. As a result, I have a much higher understanding of regression analyses which I can use in my own research.
I was also allowed the opportunity to help with a number of the different programs APA offers for graduate students in conjunction with the APA Convention. I managed the incoming applications for the Student Travel Awards that enables graduate students to attend the APA Convention in Boston. Other Convention-related activities I assisted with were the Science Student Council sponsored activities, keynote speaker addresses, and disseminating knowledge about the Science Directorate through fliers.
One of my favorite parts of my internship was the ability to attend Congressional briefings and hearings on Capitol Hill as a representative for APA. I got to hear psychologists testify to the Department of Defense budget about sponsoring psychological research as well as the role of women in Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics fields. I attended these weekly briefings and learned so much about the corresponding topics. Another great example of such meetings was the Grand Challenges in Neuroscience workshop sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences Institute on Medicine. I was able to hear the leaders of neuroscience discuss the most important new areas for research without being restricted.
An even greater result of my internship was the ability for me to network. I have personally met Dr. Norman Anderson (APA’s CEO), Dr. Steven Breckler (APA’s Executive Director for Science), Dr. Michael Honaker (APA’s Deputy CEO), and more. Every single person at APA shared their enthusiasm for continued education and my desire to attend graduate school and get a Ph.D. in Social Psychology is so much stronger after working for APA’s Science Directorate. I am so proud that I was chosen to represent Georgia Southern University’s psychology undergraduates and I highly recommend that students take advantage of the many opportunities provided by the APA Science Directorate.