Already running one of the largest internship programs at University of Maryland, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) has seen interest in the program continue to grow. A Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, START saw 25 percent more applicants this fall than in the fall of 2013.
A unique feature of the START internship program is that it is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all universities giving students a chance to network among a nationwide community of peers, as well as work alongside the top researchers in their fields.
This fall, START is training more than 90 interns representing more than 15 different institutions across the United States. START’s recently completed summer internship drew students from over 30 institutions nationally.
“From START’s home base at the University of Maryland, to the golden shores of University of California Los Angeles, to the city streets of Columbia University, START’s interns help to create a diverse atmosphere of academic excellence,” said Eva Coll, START internship coordinator. “Prospective employers tell us time and again how impressed they are with the quality of our students, and the substantive work they’ve completed through their internships here.”
This semester, interns are working on nearly 30 different projects. A large percentage work on START’s Global Terrorism Database researching, identifying and coding aspects of terrorist attacks such as incident locations, perpetrator identification, target classification, consequences of terrorism, and motives.
A large contingent also works within the Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division, where they conduct research projects on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. Other START interns work on psychology and radicalization projects and still others research risk communication and resilience. In addition to project-focused work designed to provide interns with practical experience, START hosts educational and professional development enrichment sessions with practitioners and scholars who offer personal perspectives and career guidance.
Students interested in applying for an internship for the spring should visit the START career opportunities internships page and submit an application by Nov. 9.
To read more about intern experiences, visit START’s student blog at http://www.start.umd.edu/blog.