Summer 2021: External and Internal Opportunities for Duke Ph.D. Students

PhD student opportunities.

Deadline: Rolling through April 21, 2021

The Duke University Office of the Provost is offering a broad set of opportunities to support Ph.D. students during Summer 2021. In the tables below you will find a list of experiential fellowships with external partner organizations; and a list of internship opportunities with Duke units.

Keep in mind that enrolled Ph.D. students can also propose a summer internship that they arrange themselves through the Graduate Student Training Enhancement Grants (GSTEG) program. (Update: The GSTEG deadline was March 22.)

Provost Experiential Fellowships

A limited number of experiential fellowships with external organizations are available by application. The partner organizations will offer three-month summer internship experiences for Ph.D. students. Interested students should search the opportunities to match both skills/background and research interests.

Host organizations will consider applications on a rolling basis through April 21. Ph.D. students may apply to only two (2) positions (this could be two experiential fellowships, or one fellowship and one of the Duke internships in the section below); please apply separately for each.

Questions for all external experiential fellowships should be directed to Maria Wisdom, Director of Graduate Student Advising and Engagement.

See the FAQ for the Summer 2021 Provost experiential fellowships for Duke Ph.D. students.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through a Duke portal: Apply for an experiential fellowship

You will be asked to submit the following:

  • a letter of application
  • a brief CV (2 page maximum)
  • a letter of support from the department DGS, indicating how the proposed virtual/remote internship will enhance your intellectual trajectory

Browse, search or sort alphabetically by any column. Click on the link in the Fellowship Focus column to access more information.

OrganizationFellowship FocusBrief Scope of Work
American Historical AssociationFILLED: Data Collection, Teaching Resources and Other ProjectsWork on projects such as collecting data on history PhDs and making teaching resources available for instructors. Update Where Historians Work website, assist in cleaning and creating data web-scraping sources, analyze survey results, vet and update Remote Teaching Resources
Durham Technical CC Creative & Liberal ArtsFILLED: Curriculum Diversification for British Lit I & IIDiversify curriculum for important gen ed courses (British Lit) to be inclusive of groups that are left out of the Western canon. Will connect with faculty and resources involved in similar projects, research work from underrepresented communities in British Lit, create course content to be accessed by future instructors.
Durham Technical CC Creative & Liberal ArtsEquity Gaps in Student Success RatesSupport selection and adaptation of an intervention to address equity gaps in student success rates. Will review the literature to find promising interventions, work with community college instructors to adapt the intervention so it can be piloted in a first-year composition class.
Durham Technical CC Creative & Liberal ArtsFILLED: Health HumanitiesInfuse health humanities content and pedagogical best practices into cluster of community college core courses; review literature and work with Durham Tech team
Modern Language AssociationFILLED: MLA ProgramsHelp organize, market and run a two-week professional development seminar, Why Humanities Now; help design, develop and market a toolkit of resources; help organize materials for Summer Teaching Institutes
Museum of Durham HistoryOral Histories from Durham Community MembersExpand online oral history program; conduct interviews with community members, archive story submissions, create materials for marketing oral history program
National Humanities AllianceFILLED: Campus Outreach and EngagementLead outreach efforts to minority-serving and access-oriented institutions for Humanities for All and Study the Humanities initiatives; conduct research and outreach concerning humanities recruitment efforts and publicly engaged teaching and scholarship at minority-serving and access-oriented institutions
National Humanities CenterPandemic Experiences of Healthcare and University SystemsAssist with development of curricular materials, student mentoring, metadata management, interview transcription, research into funding opportunities, creation of promotional and publicity materials, administrative outreach
NC Department of JusticeFILLED: Consumer Protection Division3 possible projects: Explore ways to improve disclosures consumers receive from companies and make consumer choices more informed; explore ways to use technological tools to obtain information that would help identify matters where consumers are being harmed and may need protection; determine optimal options for allocating money obtained in a multistate settlement
Society of Biblical LiteratureFILLED: Bible OdysseyConduct user research for BibleOdyssey.org; design and conduct focus groups and surveys to understand behavior and interests among discrete categories of users
RTI InternationalAlternative Energy OptionsShape new book series, including developing topics and content for three or more volumes, identifying state of the art research, and networking with related experts
RTI InternationalBehavioral and Physiological Markers of HealthCollect, extract and analyze data to support an ongoing systematic review; contribute to manuscripts synthesizing data extracted from the review efforts
RTI InternationalClimate Change Economic ImpactsQuantify economic impact of climate change; estimate increased incidence of inland flooding and its economic impact on infrastructure; develop data and modeling resources that can provide improved estimates of increased environmental damage to infrastructure in the US with climate change; develop spatially explicit economic characterizations of buildings and infrastructure
RTI InternationalClimate Solutions ImpactExamine role of natural climate solutions in 2020 and 2021 NDC submissions; identify magnitude of anticipated emission reductions from these activities; review and synthesize LULUCF components of country's NDC submissions, generate estimates of magnitude of emissions reductions from mitigation actions, collaborate with a project team to conduct economic analyses of mitigation commitments, assist with report writing and manuscript development
RTI InternationalFILLED: East Africa Energy Program ImpactDesign and conduct a most significant change study of the influence the program has had on the enabling environment around grid-based energy sector in Kenya
RTI InternationalEconomic Impact ModelingDevelop framework to estimate the economic impacts, at a sectoral level, from interventions in the on- and off-grid sectors; assist in development of a survey instrument, data curation and compilation, drafting literature review, visualization and summarization of modeling outputs, inputs to a draft manuscript
RTI InternationalEnergy ModelingDevelop computer programs to manage and visualize data and simulate electricity system behavior; contribute to original research article(s)
RTI InternationalFossil Fuel and Electricity CharacterizationCharacterize fossil fuel and electricity use in residential and commercial buildings and/or industrial processes; identify electrification technology options; develop data and modeling resources to characterize temporal and spatial distribution of economy-wide costs, environmental benefits and electricity system investments required to support large-scale electrification
RTI InternationalFILLED: Governance and Youth Economic OpportunitiesConduct social network analysis research on international development projects
RTI InternationalInnovation AdvisorsConduct tasks related to market research and commercialization of new technologies
RTI InternationalSubstance Use, Gender, and Applied Research ProgramAssist across national and international projects in South Africa that seek to reduce substance use, HIV, risk behaviors, gender violence and stigma; promote treatment effectiveness and compliance; and enhance family and community support in addressing substance use and related gender issues in underserved populations in community-based settings

Provost Internships at Duke

This is a list of Duke internship and research assistant opportunities offered by units across campus. Ph.D. students should search for opportunities that match both their skills/background and research interests. You may apply to only two (2) positions (this could be two internships, or one internship and one of the experiential fellowships in the section above); please apply separately for each. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through April 21.

See the FAQ for the Summer 2021 Provost internships for Duke Ph.D. students.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through a Duke portal: Apply for an internship

You will be asked to provide the following:

  • a letter of application
  • a brief CV (2 page maximum)
  • a letter of support from the department DGS, indicating how the proposed virtual/remote internship will enhance your intellectual trajectory

Browse, search or sort alphabetically by any column. Click on the link in the Internship Focus column to access with more information.

Duke UnitInternship FocusBrief Scope of Work
Center for Cognitive NeuroscienceImpact Neuroscience Program PilotParticipate in pilot program focused on supporting career development of grad students in neuroscience and improving the broader culture of science. Will submit poster/recorded talk at the end of the summer based on the methods training engaged in over the summer, produce commentary on and recommendations for the the initiative.
Duke Clinical and Translational Science InstituteCommunity Engagement Research InitiativeDevelop and implement plan to assess quality of community engagement with partners
Duke Clinical and Translational Science InstituteFILLED: Democratizing Health and Social/Environmental DataContribute to 2 projects focusing on democratizing health and social/environmental data: assist with phenotyping health conditions and curating social and environmental health data; explore health literacy and information accessibility; learn about social and environmental influences on health
Duke ForestFILLED: Field Evaluation of Road Underpasses for Wildlife Habitat ConnectivityDevelop rapid assessment protocol for wildlife passage in consultation with local experts and with consideration of existing protocols; implement rapid assessment protocol at priority locations; evaluate viability of passage within the network and recommendations for improving passage at each location
Duke ForestFILLED: Socioeconomic Analysis of Landscape Habitat ConnectivityConduct spatial and quantitative analysis of socioeconomic data as it relates to Eno-New Hope landscape; conduct spatial and qualitative analysis of most pressing local-government political drivers across region; investigate where landscape habitat connectivity may have related benefits for ecosystem services, public health, and climate resilience
Duke Global Health InstituteTextbook PreparationAssist Eric Green to prepare materials for his open access textbook on global health research methods
Duke University LibrariesFILLED: Exhibition on Latinx History at DukeSynthesize research conducted by students in Spring 2021 Latinx Social Movements course; conduct original archival research to supplement exhibition; work on exhibition services (copyright and bibliographic research, editing exhibit copy, assisting with graphic and exhibit design, utilizing digital humanities tools to expand online presence)
Duke University PressData Security Toolkit CreationCreate branded, easy-to-engage template for clients; collect existing security documentation and information from internal and external sources; synthesize data security documentation to be provided to prospective organizations as part of their services contracting process
Duke University PressFILLED: Journal Platform CreationCreate scholarly journal content sites, including site review and QA, and digital content loading (XML) to the sites. Will learn business data flows and tools involved in creating full journal content sites
Franklin Humanities InstituteFILLED: Digital PublicsActivate humanities content from the FHI’s extensive video and essay collections for growing online audiences of cultural, social and historical analysis
Global Health and Cultural AnthropologyFILLED: Health Humanities Workshop and CurriculumBuild health humanities content and pedagogical "best practices" seminars. Lead and execute all aspects of research and course development; create six modules on a different aspect of health humanities
Graduate Liberal Studies ProgramFILLED: Benchmarking Research ProjectAssist in completing a benchmarking research project to facilitate transformative educational experiences in graduate-level liberal arts study. Main duties include data cleaning, follow-up, contextual research, analysis
Graduate Program in LiteratureFILLED: Summer Graduate InternEnhance and develop resources to help grad students understand programmatic requirements and procedures, and discover opportunities for research and professional development; update Student Handbook, Sakai website with guides; develop guide to research
Marine LabFILLED: C-CoAST Community EngagementWork with C-CoAST network on engagement activities designed to integrate researcher, practitioner and stakeholder expertise across the spectrum of coastal interests, culminating in coproduction of a research agenda that supports coastal communities
Marine LabFILLED: Community Science Initiative (CSI)Support CSI’s civic engagement work and engage with the local coastal communities of NC; projects include STEM Pathways; Training for Resiliency and Race-Equity; K-12 curriculum program evaluation, modification and teacher support; citizen science data collection and analyses
Marine LabFILLED: Fisheries Consortium of Eastern NCHelp create Fisheries Consortium of Eastern NC to facilitate intersciplinary collaboration; produce consortium website; form interest/focus groups, host meetings and surveys; develop framework for consortium meetings
Nasher Museum of ArtVirtual Exhibition DevelopmentAssist with creating virtual exhibitions. Experience with HTML/CSS/JavaScript is essential. May participate in videography, graphicdesign, marketing, exhibition design and visual resource management
NC Leadership Forum, Provost’s Office and Sanford School of Public PolicyAcademic Research Agenda DevelopmentReview and synthesize academic literature related to underlying theories that ground NCLF program; develop scoping paper that discusses potential lines of research for future projects; participate in planning and execution of ongoing NCLF programs; possibly assist with next steps for NCLF core program
Office of Undergraduate EducationAcademic Resource CenterAssist and lead the design, implementation and evaluation of ARC research and assessment activities to determine efficacy of services and programs
Office of Undergraduate EducationFILLED: Duke LIFEResearch best/peer practices for summer bridge programs for incoming 1GLIs
Office of Undergraduate EducationOUE ResearchSupport data management, documentation and analysis; literature search and review; report and manuscript preparation; and future research planning
Office of Undergraduate EducationOUE and Student Affairs Campus Climate CommitteeSupport literature-review subcommittee and interview (focus group, survey, and in-person interview) subcommittee of the CCC
Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript LibraryFILLED: Digital Archival ExpeditionsWork on development of active learning sessions and assignments for Duke undergrad courses with group of fellows. Will hold office hours to support development of each project, serve as a peer mentor for fellows, organize trial teaching for fellows to test their modules, coordinate project development workshops for fellows, review and provide regular feedback to fellows on work
SociologyFILLED: Refugee Integration Curriculum DevelopmentDevelop 5 projects for Health and Immigration class (Fall 2021), involving analyzing, grounding and application of World Relief Durham data/methods
Social Science Research InstituteFILLED: Informing Social Change and Anti-Racism Initiatives through Applied Research and EvaluationProvide critical engagement in SSRI's university- and community-partnered efforts; contribute to a community-engaged evaluation research study in partnership with a social-change youth orchestral program that works with Triangle-area Title 1 schools, interview-based data collection and analysis; develop evaluation design for emerging Duke anti-racism initiatives
Social Science Research InstituteTheory, Concept, and Development of Programming to Dismantle Racial HierarchiesFacilitate design, development, piloting and refinement of intervention/program activities and materials; identify optimal delivery modes for highest impact, from perspective of historical and scientific accuracy as well as effectiveness of delivery
Triangle Center for Evolutionary MedicineFILLED: Evolution-based K-12 Lesson Plan DevelopmentDevelop evolution-based K-12 lesson plans for Darwin Day Roadshow. Responsibilities include conceptualizing lessons, aligning lesson plans with NC Standards, developing comprehensive teacher resources for lesson plans (presentations, worksheets, suggestions for further student exploration). Will develop at least one lesson plan and modify/update existing lesson plans