Internships

Internships at the world-renowned Gesell Institute, named after Dr. Arnold Gesell and founded in 1950 following his retirement from Yale University, provide unique opportunities for serious students who wish to take part in ongoing applied research and outreach activities, and to impact children and families both locally and worldwide. Interns are given the opportunity to participate in and/or create innovative projects in the fields of child growth and development, and early care and education.

Gesell internships can easily be individualized, allowing students to match their specific skills to the project, while developing their particular areas of interest. We are currently seeking motivated individuals to serve as Interns and Volunteers in the below listed capacities for Fall 2010.

While paid internships are not typically available, a small stipend is sometimes possible, and we are more than happy to work with students and schools to provide course credit or to meet other applicable service requirements. Please contact us for more information, or submit a resume for consideration at any time to Program Associate Ashley Firth.

Scroll down for more information, or click on the are of interest below for details.

Marketing/Business Internship
Computer Systems/Information Technology
Research Internship
Additional Information

Marketing/Business Internship

Gesell Institute offers training workshops for teachers to administer and score the Gesell Developmental Observation (GDO), as well as customized seminars for professional development and parent education. The institute also sells a wide variety of resources for teachers and parents (books, DVDs, pamphlets, assessment kits, and other materials). The Institute is revising the GDO and associated materials to include new data from the GDO Study, planned for Fall 2010 distribution. Interns help implement the Marketing Plan for these materials, to ensure that the product reaches the desired audience (teachers, principals, physicians, psychologists) using novel channels according to a timeline. Additionally, there are plans underway for the development of a new assessment tool guided by developmental theory, GDO Study pilot data, and responses from focus groups. Projects in this area may include the following.

Draft copy for mini website and other marketing materials; maintain mini site
Revise, edit, and update Agency Brochure
Coordinate focus groups regarding assessments, parent questions, etc.
Coordinate calls to customers for sales
Research, review, and analyze successful marketing plan

Qualifications: Undergraduate or graduate course work/experience with business or marketing is preferred but not required. Additional course work or experience in the fields of education, assessment, market research, or sales is desirable. Skills and abilities necessary include meticulous attention to detail and scrupulous organizational skills; proficiency with MS Office applications; persistence, thoroughness, and a strong work ethic; excellent communication skills; and the ability to multi-task, troubleshoot, and work well both independently and on a team.

Computer Systems/Information Technology

IT interns assist Institute staff with a variety of information systems issues, including web design and maintenance, interactive web based programs, database design, computerized accounting systems, networking, and so forth. Undergraduate or graduate course work/experience in computer science, management and information systems, engineering, web design, or a related field is required. Video editing experience a plus. Projects in this area may include the following.

Maintain e-mail and web host
Troubleshoot and provide computer support to office and field staff as needed
Update technical aspects of web site
Research new software, hardware, and other IT needs
Edit video for digital portfolios and webinars

Qualifications: Undergraduate or graduate course work/experience with computer systems, Information technology, and/or video editing is preferred but not required. Additional course work or experience in a business or non-profit environment is desired. Skills and abilities necessary include meticulous attention to detail and scrupulous organizational skills; proficiency with a variety of hardware and software; persistence, thoroughness, and a strong work ethic; excellent communication skills; and the ability to multi-task, troubleshoot, and work well both independently and on a team.

Research Internship

Gesell Institute’s current research efforts include a national study focused on the Gesell Developmental Observation (GDO) and a local community-based applied research project called the Parent-Teacher Connection Program (P-TCP). The GDO study has resulted in the collection of close to 2,000 assessments of children ages 2½ to 6 around the United States in order to gather baseline and exploratory data on the developmental behaviors and knowledge of young children. Research Interns and Volunteers have the opportunity to learn about data collection, research methodology, test design, preliminary data analysis, and applied community research. Experience with data sets and preliminary analyses is required. A Masters level intern is preferred. Projects in this area include the following.

Assist with qualitative coding of GDO Pilot data
Assist with analysis of GDO Study Teacher and Parent/Guardian data
Assist with the development of new assessment systems
Search for state Requests for Proposals (RFP) for qualified assessments
Assist in RFP preparation and submission
Conduct guided literature reviews
Enter P-TCP data into SPSS
Run basic descriptive analyses on P-TCP data
Assist with data and administrative aspects of the P-TCP

Qualifications: Undergraduate or graduate course work/experience with research methods and/or data management is required. Additional course work or experience in the fields of education, psychology, or sociology is desirable. Skills and abilities
necessary include meticulous attention to detail and scrupulous organizational
skills; persistence, thoroughness, and a strong work ethic; excellent communication skills; and the ability to multi-task, troubleshoot, and work well both independently and on a team.

Additional Information

Interns and volunteers work collaboratively with Institute Staff to complete projects related to their area of application and interest. There are a variety of opportunities as outlined above available for Fall 2010. Successfully completing a volunteer commitment may lead to other, more permanent opportunities with the Institute. These opportunities may be part of an internship or volunteer experience, may be part-time or short-term, and may meet requirements for credit or other needed experiences.

Interns receive necessary on-site training. The work environment is passionate, committed to serving children, hard working, and enthusiastic. Interns who complete their commitment receive a certificate and/or college credits. Though these opportunities are typically unpaid, a small stipend may be available. Multiple intern positions are available on an on-going basis.

For more information or to apply, send an e-mail inquiry with current resume attached to Program Associate Ashley Firth. Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews will be scheduled with the most qualified candidates on a rolling basis beginning with phone interviews the week of September 6, 2010.

For a printer-friendly pdf version of our internship openings, please click here.

Gesell Institute prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religious creed, nationigin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, Vietnam Era Veteran statue, age and disability.

Updated August 17, 2010