Program Overview
The Byrd Center partners with The Ohio State University Libraries and the Expanding Visions Foundation to place Central Ohio youth into paid summer science and outreach internships at the center. Each intern completes 20-24 hours per week for 6 weeks and is assigned an internship supervisor as well as a mentor. Interns participate in weekly professional development with peers to build their skills. The primary goals for the internship are to introduce high school students from diverse communities with real-world experience that can be included on their resumes, expose students to work in a professional setting and a college campus, and enable students to network with professionals. Each summer's placements are unique based on the laboratories, facilities, and offices at the Byrd Center that participate.
While interns are not expected to major in or pursue a career in science, many have done so after completing internship at the center. Interns are selected from youth who enroll in and complete the Expanding Visions Foundation Career Institute. The institute's application form is available here.
This program is supported by donations to the Byrd Center's Education and Outreach Fund. For more information on the program or to donate, contact Jason Cervenec.
