By Career Field of Interest:
These categories are very general and by no means exhaustive. Many of these professions could fit into several different categories. However, they are categorized here in a way to make it easier for you, the student, to understand the diverse options to better make your choice.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Biologist
Sylvia Hewitt '83 (Biology); M.A. Biochemistry – Duke University (also listed in Health Professions)
Company/Location: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Raleigh, NC
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Biologist - ʺBenchʺ researcher in an NIH Intramural Basic Science Research lab. Our focus is on mechanisms of estrogen responses using both cell culture models and transgenic mice.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: In the 3-5 day window, there would be opportunities to meet with individuals in a variety of positions, including Veterinary Medicine, epidemiology, bioinformatics, pathology, toxicology.
Chemistry/Higher Education
Louis Madsen '94 (Chemistry); Ph.D., Chemistry – California Institute of Technology (also listed in Education)
Company/Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Position Title of Alumna & Description: Associate Professor - I teach physical and polymer chemistry classes and manage a research laboratory of 8 people (PhD candidates, postdoc, sometimes undergraduates). We study fundamental properties of ʺsoft materialsʺ such as polymers, liquid crystals, and ionic liquids using advanced magnetic resonance methods. We span the fields of chemistry, physics, materials science, and chemical engineering.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 4 days, March 18-28
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: What is research in materials chemistry and physical chemistry all about? How can one use magnetic resonance (like MRI) technology to learn about materials used in energy (batteries, fuel cells, etc) and sustainability (water purification) applications? What do professors and research staff at a large research/teaching institution do all day?
Consulting
Eric Johnson '88 (Russian/Math); & M.A., Russian Area Studies – Georgetown (also listed in Public & Social Service)
Company/Location: Self-Employed, Shanghai, China
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Consultant - I consult for NGOs (international and domestic) which want help in the field of implementing substantial projects supporting freedom of expression--sometimes local media development, sometimes internet freedom. Sometimes I write proposals, sometimes I help launch and/or run projects, and sometimes I evaluate projects. Most of my work recently has been internet-related: cyberpolicy (local advocacy in support of more, and more-free, internet), cybercircumvention (breaking through firewalls), or cybersecurity (training activists and journalists how to defend against governmental attempts to compromise their safety, confidentiality, or anonymity).
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: Insights into: [1] expatriate life, [2] freelancing / consulting, [3] the global aid industry, and [4] the ʺfreedom defense/promotionʺ field.
Additional Information: My work is virtual--I don't have an office (I work from home or from cafes near my home).
Environmental Education & Outreach
Rochelle Gandour-Rood '02 (Chemistry); M.S., Environmental Studies – Antioch University New England (also listed in Education)
Company/Location: Trout Unlimited, Seattle, WA
Position Title of Alumna & Description: Youth Education Coordinator - My overarching goal is to help people connect to their place by learning about it. In my work at Trout Unlimited (www.tu.org), I specifically focus on connecting youth with their local watershed, often through the study of trout or salmon. I have four main tasks: [1] Coordinate our national network of partners and educators (and program resources) in the Trout in the Classroom program. (www.troutintheclassroom.org) [2] Publish our quarterly kids' magazine, Stream Explorers. (www.streamexplorers.org/magazine) [3] Assist our national TU Youth Leadership Council in pursuing the development of a TU Teens program. [4] Respond to inquiries from our volunteers across the country and help them develop their own local youth education programs.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 4 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: The extern will be able to learn about how a mid-sized national environmental non-profit runs, and how an education program fits into an organization centered largely on conservation work. Depending on the extern's interests, we can explore:-some perspectives on what it means to be an environmental educator, including how we reach out to various groups and how to connect our work with formal education systems.-what it is like to work with community volunteers.-the various aspects of conservation work (communication, advocacy, science, policy, field work), and how we knit them together. My Seattle-area colleagues (representing a variety of TU's efforts) may also be available for interviews, observation, and/or small projects, depending on the extern's interests.
Additional Information: Trout Unlimited (TU) is a large organization with many campaigns and efforts, and my work as an environmental educator is varied and covers a wide range of projects. I encourage any student interested in either environmental education or watershed conservation to consider an externship with TU.
Evolutionary Biology
Erin Marie Williams '00 (Anthropology); M.A., Anthropology – George Washington University; Master's of Philosophy – George Washington University; Ph.D., Hominid Paleobiology – George Washington University
Company/Location: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow - I am a research scientist studying human evolutionary biology, specifically focusing on the biomechanics of making and using Paleolithic tools, and how biomechanical demands may have influenced the evolution of human upper limb anatomy. I gather data on how people move their upper limbs while making and using Paleolithic stone tools and during contemporary activities in a 3-D motion capture laboratory in order to evaluate the role of some of our uniquely human anatomy during these activities.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 3 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: No, student is responsible for own housing
What will you get from this externship: During the externship I will be bringing in subjects from all over North America (specifically people skilled at replicating early stone tools) to participate in these studies. The extern working with me will be able to initially observe the use of cutting edge motion capture technology (both digital and infrared systems which record at >200Hz) and then receive training to use the equipment him or herself. We may also use high speed pressure-sensing equipment to capture data on manual pressure distributions during a variety of activities, in which case the extern would also be trained on that equipment, as well. We will discuss how to conduct scientific investigations, starting with the formation of a question, on to project and protocol development, data collection, interpretation and publication.
Marine Conservation
Amanda Keledjian '08 (Biology/Anthropology); Master of Advanced Study, Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (also listed in Public & Social Service)
Company/Location: Oceana, Washington, D.C.
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Marine Scientist - I work at one of the largest international organizations dedicated to marine conservation, headquartered in Washington, D.C. The organization works on campaigns to promote responsible fishing, end seafood fraud, stop offshore drilling, promote alternative energy, and conserve marine wildlife. As a marine scientist working in the policy arena, my portfolio includes protected species (marine mammals, turtles, sharks) and the bycatch of this wildlife during fishing activities.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible at this time
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: By spending time at Oceana, an extern would learn about conservation policy and how science informs decision-making at the national level. We work on interdisciplinary teams that include attorneys, lobbyists, marketing and communications staff, and scientists, and students would have the opportunity to learn and interact with all of these departments. Specific topics could include international fisheries management, the impacts of human activities on marine wildlife, and the economics of conservation. In addition to observing, I would work to give the extern opportunities to produce tangible products from conduct short-term research, blog pieces, and meeting people at similar organizations.
Additional Information: I could put together a great week for a visiting student that would include meeting other Grinnellians and colleagues in the environmental field and walking away with tangible resume-building products.
Public Health Research
Alok Shah '04 (Biological Chemistry); Ph.D, Molecular and Cellular Biology - University of Iowa (also listed in Health Professions)
Company/Location: Emmyon, Inc., Iowa City, IA
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Co-Founder & Senior Research Scientist - At Emmyon, we are striving to prevent and cure metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and skeletal muscle atrophy. I do biological research in identifying compounds that prevent and reverse these diseases.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 3-5 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: The extern will get hands-on experience in bench research and will also be able to learn about the behind-the-scenes functioning of a start-up company. Any student who is interested in research, human disease, and the thriving and stimulating environment of a small start-up would be a fantastic fit.
Software Development
David Leppik '94 (Computer Science); & M.S., Computer Science – University of Minnesota
Company/Location: Vocal Laboratories, St. Louis Park, MN
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Vice President of Software Development - I'm the software developer of a high-tech small company (5 full-time employees). Our company measures customer satisfaction primarily through telephone surveys administered by dozens of part-time contractors who work from home. I write and maintain the code that runs our virtual call center and related services. I work closely with our system administrator and our CEO/project manager. Day-to-day work is primarily programming, which runs the gamut from data architecture to User Experience (UX) design.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: No, student is responsible for own housing. If housing is within 10miles of Vocal Laboratories, alumnus can provide transportation to and from externship site.
What will you get from this externship: By programming with me, the student will learn how to design clean, maintainable, and useful code. Other skills acquired may include: requirements gathering, UI/UX (User Interface/User eXperience) design, unit testing, and usability testing.
Additional Information: The student should have at least a basic knowledge of computer programming (CSC 151.) The more computer science (s)he knows, the richer the externship will be.
Wildlife Biology
Joy Tamayose '88 (Biology); M.S., Wildlife Science – Oregon State University (also listed in Public & Social Service)
Company/Location: Haleakala National Park, Haiku, HI
Position Title of Alumnus & Description: Wildlife Biologist - My work focuses on the management of endangered bird populations. I am a field biologist on a small project that protects and monitors the Hawaiian petrel and Hawaiian goose populations within the park.
Length of Stay & Dates Available: 5 days, Flexible
Housing Available? If yes, where?: Yes, alumnus' home
What will you get from this externship: The extern will have the opportunity to experience conservation biology in practice and to learn about the challenges of long-term management of natural resources. The extern will also gain some familiarity with the park service and government agencies in general.
