Our nation’s current and future challenges make it imperative that government identify, recruit and retain the next generation of public servants.
With just under 7% of the full-time federal workforce under the age of 30, executive branch agencies are working to meet this need, prioritizing the design and implementation of paid internship programs that provide students with valuable work experience, an expanded professional network, and a better understanding of the importance and impact of public service.
Managed by the Partnership for Public Service, the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program helps bring diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across all academic disciplines are welcome to apply.
Selected participants in the program will receive:
- A 10-12 week internship at the National Science Foundation
- Stipends:
- Full-time interns (full-time defined as a minimum of 32 hours/week) receive a stipend of $6,500, plus $5,500 for housing and travel expenses.
- Part-time interns (part-time defined as 20 hours/week) receive a stipend of $3,250, plus $750 for travel expenses.
- Professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events throughout the fall.
To apply to the program, candidates must be:
- U.S. citizens at the time of application submission.
- For the Fall 2024 term, enrolled at an accredited educational institution in an undergraduate or graduate program. Undergraduates must be current second-year students/sophomores and above.
- Able to demonstrate superior academic achievement and have a GPA above 2.5.
- Interested in at least one of the following career tracks:
- Public Administration: May include positions in finance, human resources, management/administration, or similar fields.
- Science, Mathematics and Engineering: May include positions in the fields of science and health, engineering and math. This track is open to candidates from technical backgrounds.
- Government Contracting and Acquisition: May include positions relating to federal contracting and acquisition, procurement, and business.
- Liberal Arts: May include positions in communications, arts, humanities, graphic design, public policy, writing/editing, communications, public affairs and social sciences.
- Public Interest Technology: May include positions in operations technology-focused policy, graphic design, writing/editing, program management, data analysis, entrepreneurship and stakeholder management. This track is open to candidates from both technical and social science backgrounds, but candidates must be interested in technology innovation and harnessing the full potential of technology for public good.
Students admitted to the program must successfully complete a background check before beginning the internship in September 2024.
Fall 2024 Timeline
- February 14, 2024: Applications for the fall 2024 cohort open.
- May 24, 2024: All completed applications must be submitted.
- June – July 2024: Virtual interviews conducted.
- July 2024: Selected fellows will be notified of placement.
- July 2024: Background check process begins.
- August 2024: Virtual orientation.
- September 16, 2024: Internship begins.
- December 2024: Internship ends by December 2nd (internships run 10–12 weeks, based on what is agreed upon with each intern’s host office and supervisor).
