Acquiring a strong internship is an important part of the educational phase of life.  Internships offer students ways to acquire skills, gain experience, explore professional settings, and set future career direction.  Moreover, in today's job market, potential employees are evaluated based on their mix of education, discipline, experience, and unique talents.

JDRF’s College Internship Program is a competitive program designed to develop and train undergraduate and graduate students living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to become leaders in the diabetes community.

Applying for the JDRF College Internship Program will help you refine your job search skills, gain experience with communicating with employers about your career goals, and offer you valuable experience in different professional sectors.  All positions are within the diabetes community and a variety of internship locations are available.

JDRF’s College Internship Program coordinates 8 (+/-) week summer internships in the diabetes professional arena.  JDRF matches prospective interns with internship opportunities across the United States.  Prior to the internship, JDRF will train interns prior to the internship start date via WebEx. During this experience, interns will receive basic training in professional behavior, communication skills, advocacy and grass roots organization and development. 

Internship opportunities exist in the following sectors of the diabetes community:

1. Advocacy & Government Relations
2. Business Operations & Management
3. Communications & Marketing
4. Research & Science
5. Technology

Timeline:

• November 2019– Application process opens
• January 14, 2020 – Application deadline
• January 24, 2020– Intern Finalists notified
• February 2020 – Finalists interviewed by Host sites
• March - April 2020 – Internship offers
• June 2020 – Internships begin
• August 2020 – Internships conclude

• Participants must be a current, full-time student in an undergraduate or graduate program and have successfully completed at least 1 year of course work (Age 18-24)
• Participants must have lived with T1D for at least 1 year

Application Details:

All applicants must express initial interest by uploading their resume and contact information via this website.  

Applicants will then receive an email with additional instructions on submitting a formal application, which will include 

• Application Form (will be emailed to you after you enter your information via this website);
• Letter of Recommendation from a professor or employer;
• Resume (please include city, state, academic status, major, and GPA)

*Applications that are not complete by January 14th will not be considered. 

Interns will be chosen for summer internships based on the following criteria:

• Writing Skills
• Letter of Recommendation
• Completion of Application
• Resume
• Professionalism

Expectations of Interns:

• Professional behavior
• Willingness to cover the cost of travel and personal expenses during the internship (travel, housing, food)
• Preparation to handle transportation while engaged in the internship (personal car, shared transportation, verification of bus route, etc.)
• Concluding report due at the end of the internship (1-page)

The goal of the JDRF College Internship Program is to introduce young adults living with T1D to the various professional opportunities within the diabetes industry, diabetes research entities, and community organizations while equipping them with the necessary skills and experience to advance their careers.  JDRF serves as a "talent source" connecting companies serving the diabetes community with internship talent.  Internship opportunities are available at JDRF's headquarters in New York, NY, and in JDRF's Government Relations office in Washington, DC.  Opportunities with other companies in the diabetes field are available in other citites throughout the US.

All companies, organizations and governmental programs that are interested in JDRF College Interns have committed to provide the following:

• A learning opportunity that will help foster the academic and professional development of an intern;
• Traditional stipend of approximately $2,500 - 3,000 for the summer; and
• Mentorship of the student.