Brown Research Development Intern

The Brown Research Development intern is a paid internship for a graduate student, postdoc, or medical student interested in research strategy and the development of research collaborations. This role is in the Office of Research Strategy and Development (ORSD), whose mission is to catalyze creative internship by empowering individuals and teams to lead strategic research endeavors with global impact. We are open to applicants representing diverse areas of expertise in life sciences, public health, and biomedical engineering.

The intern will work under the supervision of the Associate Director of Research Strategy. The intern will receive training in strategic planning, facilitation, and proposal development, all of which are critical skills for successful research collaborations, from inception to final publication. The intern will learn these skills by working alongside experienced professionals. As a member of the ORSD team, they will run up to three workshops and support proposal development for research collaborations led by Brown faculty in pursuit of federal funding. The intern will learn how to identify funding opportunities, bring together interested faculty as collaborators, and facilitate the strategy development process required for a successful federal funding proposal.

This position is intended to supplement the regular coursework, research, and teaching responsibilities of Brown graduate students and postdocs. The intern must be able to commit to the program (10 hours per week, virtual) without negatively impacting their own academic progress. PhD students and postdocs must have the consent of their advisor in order to participate. While we encourage international students to apply,  please be aware that admission into the program is  contingent upon coordination with OISSS. The selected intern  must comply with guidance from the Graduate Student and/or Postdoc office as appropriate to ensure that the program aligns with their current status at Brown.

The intern will work in the following areas:

Federal Funding Proposal Development

• Proposals will involve federal funding opportunities issued by agencies such as the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, NASA, and, in some cases, defense agencies.
• Proposal development skills include identifying funding opportunities, developing tasks lists from solicitation announcements, connecting to resources at Brown such as data management resources, facilities, and letters of commitment or collaboration from university leadership.

Collaboration Facilitation Skills

• Forming and leading multi-disciplinary teams
• Running efficient and engaging meetings
• Project management skills using G-Suite tools
• Managing diverse personalities
• Promoting inclusive excellence

Strategy Development Skills

• Understanding of core approaches to strategy development, which generally involve helping groups generate, develop, select and implement their ideas.
• Training in Strategic Doing, which supports teams to efficiently form collaborations, move them toward measurable outcomes, and make adjustments along the way.
• Training in Appreciative Inquiry, a strengths-based, high-engagement approach to collaborative strategy development.

Qualifications
Education and Experience

• Brown University graduate degree candidates or post-doctoral researchers – we particularly encourage applicants from STEM fields including BioMed, Public Health, Engineering, Brain Science, Digital Health, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science.
• Interns must have passed all qualifying examinations (PhD candidates) and have at least one year remaining at Brown
• Interns must have written consent from their faculty advisor (PhD candidates and Postdocs)

Competencies

• Strong science/technical background
• Strong writing skills, e.g. the ability to distill complex scientific concepts into broadly understandable language
• Strong communication skills, including writing for lay audiences, public speaking, and graphic communication.
• Ability to work independently to meet project deadlines
• Commitment and availability for 10 hours per week for a minimum of one year
• Enthusiasm and willingness to take on new challenges

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Position open until filled.

End date: open

Questions? Please contact Betsy Stubblefield Loucks, Associate Director of Research Strategy, Office of Research Strategy and Development: betsy_loucks@brown.edu.