About Internships

The plan for the WISP research internship program is as follows:

• Interviewing and matching: fall term
• Research experiences: winter and spring terms

Be sure to monitor the WISP website and communications for any changes to the research internship program process and/or schedule. The WISP program will remain active throughout the year, regardless of any potential pandemic-related restrictions (e.g. restrictions on access to campus facilities, including research facilities and labs), although the timeline and format may change.

The WISP Research Internship Program, established in 1991, matches undergraduate women with faculty mentors in paid, part-time research internships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. WISP internships provide early hands-on research experience and the opportunity for mentoring from a research scientist or faculty member.

Internships last two terms (winter and spring) and interns present their work at the Karen E. Wetterhahn Science Symposium in May.

WISP provides you with hands-on research experience that will supplement your science education and help you develop:

• Research skills
• A better understanding of scientific inquiry and culture
• An awareness of science and/or engineering career possibilities

• First-year women: any STEM discipline (including Psychological & Brain Sciences).
• Sophomore women: chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics/astronomy (areas where women are most under-represented).

These Are Paid Internships

WISP interns work 6-10 hours per week. First year interns work are expected to work two terms (winter and spring), and sophomores may work one or two terms, depending on their D-plans.

Interns are paid $12 per hour for up to 100 hours per term. This does count towards work-study requirements. Interns must complete the I-9 employment verification process prior to beginning their WISP internship.

Getting to Off-Campus Internships

Off-campus internships can be accessed through the Advance Transit bus system (it's free!).

Sophomores and Transfer Students

Sophomores: eligible only for internships in chemistry, computer science, engineering, math, physics/astronomy.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: sophomores who find (or wish to find) a faculty research mentor on their own, should apply for the Undergraduate Research Assistantship at Dartmouth (URAD) program rather than a WISP internship. There are tips for finding faculty research mentors on the UGAR website.

Transfers: all internships are open to transfer women in their first year at Dartmouth, regardless of their assigned class year.

You may not participate in another Dartmouth research program in the same year as a WISP internship (e.g. Sophomore Research Scholars, First-Year Research Experiences in Engineering)

Other Options for First-Year Research

WISP internship funding is only available for projects listed in the WISP online faculty project database. Other options for research in the first year:

• First-Year Research in Experiences in Engineering (FYREE): Research opportunities for first-year students who are considering a major in engineering. 
  • Students who are not matched for Round 1 of the WISP program and are not accepted to FYREE may apply for Round 2 of WISP. 
• Students may seek their own research opportunities. See the Finding a Faculty Research Mentor page on the UGAR website.