Internship Opportunities

The Division of Health and Wellness Studies (HWS), as part of Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, offers a range of internships that allow students to gain hands-on experience, build new skills and impact the community.

Opportunities

  • Nutrition and Fitness Peer Education Service-Learning Internship

    The Nutrition and Fitness Peer Education Service-Learning Internship offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in health and wellness. This internship allows students to apply what they have learned in their academic courses to professional work settings. Throughout the internship, students will participate in a variety of activities including service-learning projects, providing peer education, conducting outreach within the greater Binghamton community and engaging in research. The program features weekly seminar classes that focus on topics related to nutrition and fitness, alongside the development of professional skills.

    Highlights

    • Participate in weekly seminar classes (1:10–3:10 p.m. Mondays, West Gym)
    • Develop and implement educational programming
    • Build public speaking, networking, communication and teamwork skills
    • Participate in service-learning and research
    • Make a positive impact in the Binghamton area

    Credit options
    The internship can be taken for 2, 3 or 4 Health and Wellness Studies internship credits that apply toward graduation and electives for the HWS minor.

    • 2 credits, requires 60 hours of outreach
    • 3 credits, requires 90 hours of outreach
    • 4 credits, requires 120 hours of outreach

    Intern selection
    Interns will be selected through application and interview processes. There are no required prerequisites to apply for the internship; however, preference will be given to students with training or previous coursework in the field of health, nutrition and fitness.

    Application procedures
    Applications are available in this (see nutrition-intern-application.pdf) and from the HWS Office, Room G5, West Gym.

    For more information and deadlines, contact Sarah Thompson at sthomps@binghamton.edu.

  • Research Experience in Nutritional Neuroscience (B-SMART and B-MINDS)

    This research experience focuses on diet and lifestyle factors that affect mental health and several neurobehaviors. Students will learn various research procedures, such as developing a research proposal; obtaining IRB approval; collecting, coding and analyzing data; and disseminating the results through abstracts, research posters and manuscripts. In addition to conducting research, this opportunity includes a robust outreach initiative to promote the findings to the community. This makes it ideal for science enthusiasts and students looking to develop valuable skills for graduate and medical schools, including research-related skills, teamwork, critical thinking, public speaking, conflict resolution and time management.

    Research teams

    • Binghamton-Student Managed Adderall Research Team (B-SMART): The focus of this study is the effect of diet and substance use on several neurobehaviors
    • Binghamton-Mentors for the Interdisciplinary Nutrition and Distress Study (B-MINDS): The focus of this study is the effect of diet quality and food insecurity on stress, mental health and several health aspects

    Credits

    This research experience provides 2 credits that can be used to fulfill the credit requirements for the HWS minor or can be counted toward graduation. 

    Application procedures and qualifications

    Applications are available in the middle to late part of the fall semester.

    The acceptance criteria include the following: 

    • A GPA of 3.5 or higher 
    • A solid foundation in science, with a preference for biology and neuroscience 
    • Preference is given to underclassmen who can make multisemester commitments.
    • In the first semester, students are accepted as interns; if they are considered suitable as research assistants, they are granted official acceptance to that role in the subsequent semester 
    • All research assistants must complete HWS 410 during their first semester after formal acceptance into the program