Internship Program Newsfeed

Summer 2012 Berktern Tabitha Messick Childs Writes About Her Summer of Media Law

rtabasky — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:34:55 -0400

Geek Cave - Part-time Jr. Geek Opening

rtabasky — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:49:36 -0400

We’re looking for a geeky and motivated student to join the Berkman Center’s Systems Group as a part-time Junior Geek.

You would be responsible for supporting the Berkman Center's quest to make the Internet and the world a better place, would get to work with some of the brightest and most innovative Internet researchers in the world, and get to have fun in the process.

The successful candidate will be able to perform daily IT tasks that provide general support to the Center staff. This position will also perform (depending on the candidate) Windows, Apple and Linux server support tasks ranging from the complex (database work, wiki, blog and other web application tuning and configuration, scripting and virtualization work) to the more simple (account and hardware provisioning, and purchasing).

We're asking a lot, we know. Please keep in mind that we are more interested in a curious and hardworking candidate than in someone who comes to us with all of the below skills. Ideally the candidate would be a bit geeky, a quick learner, interested in the mission of the Berkman Center, and willing to grow into this open and very important position.

Basic requirements: Be proficient with MS Windows and Apple OS X (be able to apply updates to MS Windows, Apple OS X, comfortable installing applications, changing settings and debugging issues on all platforms). Have knowledge of Linux, either from being an active user of the OS, or administering a desktop or server.

Additional ‘nice-to-have’ skills: Have experience with some of the following: Xen, QEMU, VMWare, Bash, Emacs, Vim, Gimp, OpenOffice, Active Directory, LDAP, MediaWiki, WordPress, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Open Directory, MS Office, Quicktime Broadcaster, and Final Cut Pro.

To apply: Please send your resume and a cover letter summarizing your interest and experience to Ed Popko at epopko@cyber.law.harvard.edu

metaLAB Part-Time Research Positions

rtabasky — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 20:18:32 -0400

metaLAB is hiring part-time research assistants to help develop and support its efforts!

metaLAB is a research and teaching unit dedicated to exploring and expanding the frontiers of networked culture in the arts and humanities, and this year metaLAB is developing three major projects:

Teaching with Things, an initiative to explore the use of digital 3D models and multimedia to document, annotate, and remix objects in Harvard's libraries and museums for teaching in the College and beyond;
Library Observatory, a forum to visualize library collections and data and sharing those analyses with librarians, faculty, and students; and
Networks and Natures, a scholarly initiative to explore the impact of networks on our relationship with the natural world.

Successful candidates will bring a combination of well-developed coding skills (we're especially interested in Processing, Perl, Python, and Ruby), web development know-how (familiarity with WordPress customization and CSS, with the ability to wrangle some PHP and Javascript), and fabrication skills (including carpentry, 3D printing, and laser cutting, as well as a general handiness and interest in building things). You don't need to have all of these skills, but a healthy subset—combined with a desire to extend technology's role in the arts and humanities—would be most welcome.

metaLAB values diversity; we encourage applicants from the widest possible spectrum of backgrounds and experience.

Successful applicants will be students able to work 8-12 hours per week throughout the academic year. The positions are based in Cambridge, MA.

To Apply:

Send a resume with links to examples of your work: blogs, design projects, writing samples, snippets of code you've produced—anything you deem representative of the skills and qualities described above.

Contact Matthew Battles at matthew@metalab.harvard.edu to apply, or if you have any further questions about metaLAB or the open positions.

The Youth and Media Lab is hiring research assistants! Learn more about the YAM Lab and how you can get involved.

rtabasky — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:49:31 -0400

Youth and Media Research Opportunities: Part-Time

rtabasky — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:54:00 -0400

The Berkman Center’s Youth and Media project seeks full and part-time research assistants for its Youth and Media Lab. Information about the part-time roles in research, creative, and curriculum development and peer learning can be found below; read more about the full-time position here.

Are you a current college student and in search of a part-time position? Are you interested in studying social science, media studies, or education? Want to collaborate closely with top Harvard researchers and innovative partners in academia, government, and industry?

The Lab brings together young people, leading researchers and developers from the Berkman Center, and mentors from the Center’s broader network to engage creatively with the core challenges and opportunities of youth empowerment and digital citizenship. The Lab’s primary research efforts are focused on information quality, creative rights/content creation, online privacy, and kindness, meanness, and bravery among youth. More information about the Lab can be found at: http://youthandmedia.org.

Position Types and Responsibilities:

We are looking for new team members in three areas (descriptions of activities and skills below). Each area, however, has some common skill requirements:

The ability to respond to feedback on multiple iterations of any output
An openness to collaboration
Responsible communication with team members about progress, schedules, etc.

1) Research

We produce papers, articles, and reports about topics such as privacy and information quality. We are looking for someone with strong research, writing, and analytical skills to support our efforts (experience with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis is preferred).

Required Experience and Skills:

Advanced writing and editing skills, with the ability to quickly draft and contextualize written materials within the suite of the project outputs
Excellent critical reading abilities, with the ability to absorb material quickly
Reviewing and synthesizing large amounts of multidisciplinary academic material

Additional Skills and Interests Helpful for This Position:

Familiarity with data analysis tools such as NVivo, SPSS, Gephi, etc.

2) Creative

Creativity is a core part of the Lab’s activities and takes shape in all manner of media production. Think infographics, visualizations, presentations, video production, and more. Our creative outputs often complement and support our research efforts, though they can also stand on their own. We are seeking someone with an eye for aesthetics and a flair for design. This person will be expected to help visualize our research outputs by brainstorming the most appropriate creative outputs with our team and then executing the vision in collaboration with other team members.

Example outputs could include: unique presentations using state-of-the-art software, handsome static graphics and infographics (for print or web), dynamic/interactive web graphics, or motion graphics for inclusion in videos.

The specific skills and vision you bring to the position will determine the form your creative outputs will take.

Required Experience and Skills:

(We are looking for proficiency in one or more of these areas, but not in all.)

Facility with the Adobe Creative Suite (especially Illustrator and Photoshop)
Ability to translate research material into visual/creative representations in a variety of media, including presentation tools such as Prezi and Powerpoint
Comfort with technical specifications for image and video production

Additional Skills and Interests Helpful for This Position:

Familiarity with video and motion graphics editing platforms (Final Cut and Adobe After Effects)
Familiarity with PHP, CSS, and design in user interaction or user experience

3) Curriculum Development and Peer Learning

We create curricular “modules” designed to foster greater awareness and reflection (or, “aha!” moments) with other youth. The modules are based on our research and areas of interest, and have included youths’ experiences of information quality and interpersonal relationships online. We then field-test the modules at the Lab, in classrooms and informal learning settings, and online. We are looking for someone to help us advance our development efforts and explore new modes of teaching.

Required Experience and Skills:

Synthesis of multidisciplinary academic material and identification of key points.
Communication and/or leadership skills, e.g. facilitating substantive discussions

Additional Skills and Interests Helpful for This Position:

Previous experience with curricular development or teaching experience in formal or informal learning settings, including classrooms, peer-to-peer workshops, tutoring, youth leadership trainings, etc.

General Academic Year Intern/Research Assistant Information and Eligibility:

We are unable to hire Interns/RAs who live outside of the state of Massachusetts.
We do not have the ability to provide authorization to work in the United States
Interns/RAs do not have to be students.
Interns/RAs do not have to be affiliated with Harvard University.

Time Commitment & Payment:
RAs work approximately 12-15 hours per week. Compensation is the standard Harvard RA/intern rate of $11.50/hour. No other benefits are provided.

This position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and remote participation is not possible for this opportunity.

The start date is September 17^th, or as soon as possible.

To Apply:  

Please send your current CV or resume and a cover letter summarizing your interest and experience to Sandra Cortesi at scortesi@cyber.law.harvard.edu with “Application for part-time Youth and Media RA” in the subject line.

Youth and Media Research Opportunities: Full-Time

ashar — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:28:23 -0400

This position would be a great opportunity for recent college graduates and/or graduate students.

The Berkman Center’s Youth and Media project seeks full and part time research assistants for its Youth and Media Lab. Information about the full time role can be found below; read more about the part time positions here.

Looking to get your hands dirty in research? Are you in search of a full-time academic experience after college or some valuable experience and training before graduate school? Want to collaborate closely with top Harvard researchers and innovative partners in academia, government, and industry?

Position Responsibilities:

The Research Assistant’s primary responsibility will be to dive into the Lab’s core research efforts. Academic literature reviews will be fundamental to these efforts, as will the synthesis of material from across education, psychology, ethnography, the social sciences, and policy.

Secondary responsibilities will include activities that connect the Lab's broader research efforts to practice. In addition to conducting multidisciplinary literature reviews, the Lab also collects qualitative data through focus group interviews with young people. These interviews, in turn, inform the development of curricula that can be deployed in school and non-school settings. Enthusiasm for working with a team, building partnerships, and creating successful workshop or seminar experiences is desired for these activities.

Required Education, Experience and Skills:

Ideally, you have recently graduated from college, or will soon, and are looking for a research opportunity before graduate studies
Advanced writing and editing skills, with the ability to quickly draft and contextualize written materials within the suite of the project outputs
Excellent critical reading comprehension, with the ability to absorb material quickly
Advanced research skills
Attention to detail
Knowledge of issues surrounding youth engagement with digital media

Additional Skills/Interests Helpful for This Position:

Expertise in fields such as education, anthropology (ethnography), psychology, human development, sociology, or law
Reviewing and synthesizing large amounts of multidisciplinary academic material
Previous teaching experience
Familiarity with qualitative data collection
Familiarity with data analysis
Familiarity with curricular development

The Research Assistant Will Have the Opportunity to:

Boost his or her research credentials
Creatively bridge research and practice
Become a key member of the Youth and Media team
Participate in the greater-Berkman Center community, and in ongoing dynamic conversations at the forefront of thought on technology and society.

General Academic Year Intern/Research Assistant Information and Eligibility:

We are unable to hire Interns/RAs who live outside of the state of Massachusetts.
We do not have the ability to provide authorization to work in the U.S.
Interns/RAs do not have to be students.
Interns/RAs do not have to be affiliated with Harvard University.

Time Commitment & Payment:

The time commitment for this position will cycle between two different periods: it will start with 90 days of full-time (35 hours/week) work, transition to 60 days of part-time (17.25 hours/week) work, and then continue this transition back and forth for the term of the position.

At the current stage, there is no pre-determined end date to this position, and we expect the research to continue through the 2012-2013 academic year. Research assistants are paid $11.50 an hour. No other benefits are provided.

The start date is September 17th, or as soon as possible.

To Apply:  

Please send your current CV or resume and a cover letter summarizing your interest and experience to Sandra Cortesi at scortesi@cyber.law.harvard.edu with “Application for Youth and Media RA” in the subject line.

Tales from the Center: Berkterns Royze Adolfo and Hilda Barasa provide a window into the summer 2012 internship program

rtabasky — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:06:48 -0400

Summer Internship Program - Ask Us Anything

rtabasky — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:04:44 -0400

We invited summer 2012 internship applicants to ask us questions - about our internship program, our selection process, our research, or advice about production and career trajectories in the fields related to Internet & society. Jonathan Zittrain joined Berkman staff, project managers, and fellows for a live chat with the applicants to answer the many questions that were sent our way!

We recorded the chat, and you can find it up on YouTube.

So I submitted my application to be a Summer 2012 Berktern. Now what?

rtabasky — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:47:08 -0500

Today we give huge thanks to all who applied to join us as an intern this summer, and to all who helped spread the word about the opportunities! We have had an unprecedented response to our call for applications, and to have such a talented group of candidates is an amazing privilege - and challenge - for us. We’re now faced with our review and selection process – a responsibility we take seriously so that we can support rewarding and productive summers for everyone involved.

As a part of this, we wanted to answer some of the questions we're getting about our process – you can find questions and answers below.

We are totally blown away by your collective insights, talents, and accomplishments. What a great view into all of the amazing work that is being done to advance Internet & Society studies and the impact it can have.

With continued thanks from all at the Berkman Center, especially Nancy (whose catnip intake has increased to help her keep up with everything),
Becca

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Will you interview me for a position?
While we would love to talk with all applicants, we will only be contacting selected candidates for interviews.

When will I know whether or not I’m selected for an interview?
We are moving through our review as comprehensively and thoughtfully as possible. As you can imagine, this takes a bit of time. We are similarly well aware of time constraints you may have as you work to make your summer plans. We expect to begin contacting selected candidates in March - we do not have a specific date by which this will happen. Please know that we are working as fast and mindfully as we can, and very much appreciate your patience.

May I call or email you to find out more information about the status of my application?
We are carefully reviewing each application and are working to keep the highly dynamic review process moving forward. So that we can focus our energy on the review and on getting answers back to you, please do not call or email me or the Center to get information about the status of your application. We unfortunately will not be able to provide a status update for you.

How do my references factor into the review?
The references of selected candidates may be contacted during the course of our review, though we do not have precise dates for this. We will not be contacting all references for all applicants.

Do you want letters of recommendation from my references?
At this stage in the review, the names and contact information you provided in the application is all we need.

When will I know if I am not selected as a Berktern?
All applicants - those we select, and those we're unfortunately unable to - will be notified when we have finalized our selection process. We do not have a specific date for this, either, but we do expect our review to carry through late winter and early spring.

Commitment to Diversity

rtabasky — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:39:35 -0500

The work and well-being of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University are strengthened profoundly by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and much more. We actively seek and welcome applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, and persons with disabilities, as well as applications from researchers and practitioners from across the spectrum of disciplines and methods. The roots of this deep commitment are many and, appropriately, diverse. We are not nearly far enough along in this regard, and we may never be. It is a constant process in which there remains much to learn. We welcome your inquiries, comments and ideas on how we may continue to improve.