UT Shield

Bridging Disciplines Programs Opportunities

Sharing connecting experience opportunities with BDP students.

Public Policy

, Filed Under: Internship

Press Internship with Congressman J. Randy Forbes in D.C.

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) has an unpaid Press Internship position available for the 2014 Fall session in his Washington, DC office.

Duties will include writing, compiling morning clips, updating press lists, monitoring news coverage, social media and website updates, drafting press releases, blog entries, as well as answering telephones and greeting visitors, collecting constituent information, and other general office tasks as assigned.

Candidates should be professional, possess strong writing skills, and have a working understanding of the news cycle. Interns are an important part of the office and are given significant opportunities to learn and grow in a proactive, detail-oriented office.

Must be highly motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, and possess excellent organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline. The ideal candidate will be a college or graduate school student with a background or interest in journalism or communications. Virginia ties preferred, but not necessary.

Please email a resume, cover letter and two writing samples to VA04Interns@mail.house.gov with “Press Internship” in the subject line by Friday, July 18.  No phone calls please.

, Filed Under: Internship

Press Intern, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington. DC

Help us build on the more than 8 million consumers who have already signed up for private health coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS is seeking a summer intern to join the ACA public affairs team. The press intern will serve on the team working to inform Americans about the ACA as we continue outreach efforts over the coming months. As the press intern, you will have wide-ranging responsibilities: from monitoring print and online media to helping plan and pitch events to reporters. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities for this fast-paced team, and we need an intern with the attitude and experience to execute under pressure.

We are accepting applicants for a full-time (40 hours a week) schedule. The internship is unpaid.

Requirements: This internship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. The ideal candidate is an organized, self-starter with experience working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Public affairs, journalism, or communications background preferred, as is someone with an understanding of the Affordable Care Act.

This position is not a federal appointment, therefore volunteer service is not creditable for leave or any other benefits. The selected candidate and their sponsoring institution (college or university) will also be asked to sign a Department of Health and Human Services and Educational Institution Student Volunteer Employment Program Agreement.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and short writing sample (2 pages or less) to Aaron.Jacobs@HHS.gov by Monday, April 28, 2014.

, Filed Under: Research

Fall 2014 Research Assistant Position Examining Food Insecurity and Obesity

Looking for an interesting undergraduate research opportunity for Fall?  If you are a Spanish speaker, a junior with a good GPA (3.0 or more), you may qualify to assist with data collection and analysis for a project involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)!

Qualifications:
GPA: 3.0 and above
Ability to speak, read and write Spanish fluently
Junior Year

Duties and Responsibilities:
Assist with data collection and data analysis

Description of Project
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions throughout the world, with the United States (U.S.) reporting the highest rates of obesity among developed nation. Food insecurity is a public health problem that concurs with obesity. Low-income populations are disproportionately burdened by the dual problem of food insecurity and obesity. The Food Stamp Program, now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), was launched to boost the agricultural economy, and reduce food insecurity in the U.S. In 2012, nearly $74.6 billion were distributed in the form of SNAP benefits to 46.6 million Americans. Allotment of SNAP benefits is based on the Thrifty Food Plan, and the average monthly benefit per person was $133.41 in 2012. Given the vast outreach of the SNAP, its effective use may serve as a centerpiece to help improve nutrition among low-income Americans. An understanding of the dietary behaviors of SNAP participants is required to guide the development of effective policy measures. In order to gain an accurate knowledge of dietary behaviors of SNAP participants, this study will investigate food and nutrient intake of this population over the entire month. Individuals participating in SNAP may face barriers that reduce a healthy eating lifestyle. It is hypothesized that individual, environmental, sectors of influence and social and cultural factors will influence food intake patterns in this population. This hypothesis is based on the social ecological model, which posits that health behavior is determined by an interwoven relationship between the individuals and their environment. No study, till date, has evaluated the effect of social-ecological factors on dietary behaviors of SNAP participants. The primary goal of this project is to enhance the understanding of the role of social-ecological factors on monthly food intake patterns, thereby emphasizing the need to address dietary behaviors of SNAP participants at both an individual and societal level.

To Apply:
If you would like to work as a research assistant for this project, you can contact Namrata Sanjeevi, PhD student in Nutritional Sciences, at namratas@utexas.edu.