Below is a short summary of the opportunities available. Please visit our website for more information and to access the application form. http://www.start.umd.edu/start/education/research_support/internships/ .
The GTD is an open source, unclassified database including
information on terrorist attacks around the world since 1970 (currently updated
through 2011). The database is maintained by researchers at START. The GTD
includes systematic data on domestic as well as international terrorist
incidents that have occurred during this time period and now includes over
104,000 cases. The GTD intern team is organized into the following themes:
·
GTD: Incident Location and Geographic Identification
·
GTD: Perpetrator Identification
·
GTD: Target Classification
·
GTD: Understanding the Patterns and Use of Weapons and Tactics
·
GTD: The Consequences of Terrorism – Casualties and Outcome
· GTD:
Coding Intern At Large (Generalist)
Special
Projects
The
Special Projects Division consists of a number of intensive, shorter-term
research projects concentrated on three research topics within the larger study
of terrorism and politically violent non-state actors:
-
Unconventional
Weapons and Technology
-
Extremist
Origins and Trajectories
-
Threat
Management and Influence
Intern positions are available in the
following focus areas:
·
Pinch Hitter & Advanced Research
·
Individual Radicalization
·
Nuclear Security and Smuggling
·
Unconventional Weapons and Technology
·
Open Source Intelligence on Organized Crime
·
Risk Assessment and Threat Analysis
·
Failure Points of Smuggling Networks
·
GIS Analytical
Naval Research Laboratory Adversarial Modeling and Exploitation
Office
Two internships are available with AMX onsite at their offices in
Washington DC. The AMX has a number of ongoing research projects related to
counter-terrorism, behavior detection, law enforcement, crime analysis, and
geospatial analysis. The use of information by law enforcement, often called
data driven policing, is an ever evolving and expanding field.
•
Behavioral Indicators of Gun and Drug Carrying
• System
Engineering Analysis & Support
•
Statistical Analysis & Modeling Support
Communications and Research Transition Support
START communications and transition team are seeking interns to
assist with communications, writing, copy editing and graphic design activities
at the center.
Positions available:
·
Communications Interns
·
Copy Editors
·
Graphic Designer
Dataverse
START is continuing to develop the Terrorism Data Archive
Dataverse. Interns for this project will learn about terrorism-related data
through archiving datasets and reading over documentation. Interns will serve
as Assistant Editors and would be responsible for preparing data for archiving
onto the START Dataverse. Depending upon the dataset, there will also be
opportunities to create Codebooks and add labels and values to the data.
Interns will receive training in the archiving process.
Government
Actions in Terror Environments (GATE)
Recent
research suggests that governments have a vast set of policy tools at their
disposal vis-Ã -vis terrorist groups, and that pure reliance on repressive
policies can be counterproductive. While policymakers increasingly recognize
the importance of non-military counterterrorism tools in addition to military
ones, it is not yet known which type of government actions are effective; and
when carrots might be more effective than sticks in defeating terrorist groups.
This is a unique opportunity to better understand the terrorist conflict in the
US and across specific regions of the world and to get a unique view of how
governments deal with those conflicts.
Risk Communications Project
Risk communication is an important element of threat assessment,
resource allocation, information delivery, and eventual behavior change. The
Risk Communication Training Project at START, involves the development,
delivery, and evaluation of a program focused on training local leaders in the
United States on effective risk communication practices related to
homeland-security threats. Additionally, the intern will be asked to contribute
to a mobile devices research project by gathering and analyzing media coverage
of FEMA's Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. The intern will also have the
opportunity to participate in qualitative data analysis for the mobile devices
project.
START/State Department Terrorist Organizations Project Internship
Students will gather and analyze statistics on terrorist
organizations over time. Projects will include collecting the number and type
of attacks over time, looking at trends, and possibly even modeling group
capacity out into the future. Interns will also provide assistance in
researching open source information on the leadership of some groups for
possible future designations.
Interns will be co-supervised by researchers at the University of
Maryland and by project leads at the State Department. The State Department
leads will set and give feedback on tasks. Interns will be based at START’s
offices on the University of Maryland campus.
Why choose an internship at START?
·
Experience working
with a large team of dynamic and experienced researchers.
·
Exposure to cutting
edge theories and methods.
·
Deepen your
understanding of current issues in terrorism and homeland security.
·
Work on projects of
immediate interest to the practitioner and policy community.
·
Hone and develop a
range of transferable skills attractive to future employers.
·
Opportunity to work
with and meet other students and researchers with similar interests.
·
Enrichment activities
offering wide opportunities for learning and personal growth, schedule includes
simulations, career presentations and research talks.
·
Mentorship from START
staff and researcher in a successful professional environment.
·
Internships can be
undertaken for academic credit.
General requirements
Applicants for all internships must:
·
Have a good academic record.
·
Demonstrate an interest in the subject matter.
·
Be able to complete their internship work hours on site at START.
·
Agree to attend orientation and training.
·
Submit an application by the deadline, all application packets
must include:
o A
complete application for the correct semester,
o One
page resume,
o Cover
letter,
o Writing
sample,
o Unofficial
transcripts from most recent institution.
Each project may have additional requirements, including minimum
credit hours, preferred majors and compulsory meeting times. For specific
requirements and information visit: www.start.umd.edu.
How to apply
Application deadline Spring 2014:
Priority Date: midnight Tuesday October 1
Final Deadline: midnight Wednesday November 13
Applicants must submit an application form and supporting
documentation via email to education@start.umd.edu.
For more
information about the projects, requirements and for the application forms
visit: http://www.start.umd.edu/start/education/research_support/internships/
