Given the lack of recruitment opportunities over the summer, we're having a hard time reaching students to inform them about our opportunities this coming fall. We have extended the fall application deadline once more, to the absolute latest we can extend it, in the hopes that you may be able to help us in reaching any additional students that may be looking for an opportunity this fall. Our internships are a great way for students to gain professional experience in the counterterrorism/national security field, working alongside our researchers on projects such as domestic radicalization, our Global Terrorism Database, Unconventional Weapons and Technology, Communications, Geospatial Intelligence, International Crisis Behavior, Negotiation and Simulations, etc. Additionally, students can receive academic credit for their work with us.
The fall 2018 application deadline is now Sunday, July 8th at 11:59pm. Please see my message below regarding the various projects in need of intern support this fall, and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions! Our application and project descriptions are available here: https://www.start.umd.edu/careers/internships.
Global Terrorism Database (GTD) Internships
The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) is the most comprehensive unclassified terrorism database in the world. Currently updated through 2016, the GTD details information on more than 170,000 terrorist attacks that have occurred since 1970. Data from the GTD have been featured by the BBC, CNN, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Economist, The New York Times, Reuters, The Washington Post, and numerous other media outlets. The data are also used by the United States Department of State in its annual publication, Country Reports on Terrorism. GTD interns gain valuable experience working on a time-sensitive data collection effort that is used by those responsible for shaping United States counterterrorism policy.The GTD intern team is organized into the following themes:
- GTD: Incident Location and Geographic Identification
- GTD: Perpetrator Identification
- GTD: Target Classification
- GTD: Understanding the Patterns and Use of Weapons and Tactics
- GTD: The Consequences of Terrorism – Casualties and Outcomes
- GTD: Coding Intern At Large (Generalist)
Open-Source Geospatial Intelligence Internship
These internship opportunities will consist of open-source research in furtherance of a large-scale data collection effort to determine possible points of entry (POEs) across a variety of nations.
Cartel Smuggling Open-Source Project
Conduct open source research to identify transnational criminal Cartel Smuggling organizations, in South America and the United States that may be relevant to attempts to smuggle illegal drugs and material. Interns will research specific groups, translate Spanish information to English, and identify new or emerging patterns relevant to project interest. Interns may also be involved in additional data collection on those organizations and networks that are deemed as having the capability to engage in such trafficking. Interns may also work to identify or verify through open sources transportation networks in the regions of interest.
Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT): Aviation Insider Threat Research Internship
A principal goal of the homeland security enterprise is the deterrence, detection, and prevention of radiological and nuclear (RN) terrorism against the United States. This effort is pursued in part through the understanding and analysis of various pathways and modalities of attack which adversaries could exploit. With the 2010 attempt by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to infiltrate the international air cargo (IAC) system, focus has turned to the possibility of the IAC becoming susceptible to terrorist plots involving uncontrolled RN materials, as well as the development of “insiders” who could help to facilitate these ends. Through rigorous study of the air cargo industry and the psychosocial factors which could precede a vetted employee’s choice to betray his or her company’s commercial goals, START has developed a novel modeling and diagnostic tool relying on a brand new approach to improving air cargo and air cargo personnel security now deployed in the IAC system. During the fall 2018 period, the project team will execute the software tool’s deployment with government and commercial cargo entities.
Communications Internship
The START Communications team is seeking communications, public relations or journalism students to serve as interns this fall semester. Rather than performing START research, candidates chosen for this project will gain extensive experience writing and publishing, developing social media strategies, and monitoring and reporting various analytics for the organization as a whole. Interns will also have the opportunity to work with the news media, learn media list and monitoring programs, and work in graphic design.
Multimedia Internship
The START Communications team is seeking a Multimedia intern this fall. Rather than performing START research, candidates chosen for this project will gain extensive experience filming and editing professional training videos, assisting in designing concepts for multimedia projects and using a studio lighting kit to produce high quality video. Interns will also have the opportunity to work with the Multimedia team in order to design graphics and photograph company events.
ICONS Project Internship
The International Communication and Negotiation Simulations Project (ICONS) is a unit of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, College Park. ICONS creates web-based computer simulations for policy analysis and forecasting to help public and private sector organizations solve complex problems. Our policy division creates bespoke simulations to support think tanks, cabinet-level agencies, and Department of Defense major commands as they tackle complex national security challenges. Our Education Division places high school and college students from around the globe in challenging online simulation and gaming exercises that allow them to role-play resolving contentious geo-political issues.
START/State Department Terrorist Organizations Project Internship
START is excited to be able to offer a limited number of highly selective intern positions to students interested in working on projects for the U.S. State Department using START data (such as the GTD) and other open sources. Students will be tasked with developing materials that create a realistic scenario based on extensive research on history, geopolitical situations, and internal religious or ethnic cleavages in a region in support the Bureau of Counterterrorism training efforts. This internship will be co-supervised by START on-site staff at the University of Maryland and by project leads at the U.S. State Department. The U.S. State Department leads will set and give feedback on tasks.
Understanding Domestic Radicalization and Hate Crimes
This internship will support START research focused on the processes of radicalization to violent extremism and hate crime offending in the United States. The core component of this research portfolio is the Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS) dataset, the largest dataset of US-based cases of radicalization of its kind, which contains information on the trajectories, mechanisms, and consequences of violent and non-violent extremism at the individual level. PIRUS and its related projects have already generated significant attention among policymakers and scholars, and PIRUS researchers have published several reports and articles based on the data.
Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT): Next-Generation Intelligence Analysis (NGIA)
NGIA project interns will assist researchers as they identify subject matter experts with a technical background in chemical weapon technologies and, furthermore, will help test a new model of adversary chemical weapon adoption. These efforts contribute to a larger project that combines machine learning with traditional intelligence analysis approaches. Interns will be exposed to novel next-generation techniques used within the intelligence community.
UWT-START is working with other institutions to develop scalable process for the discovery of emerging or disruptive technologies that affect WMD viability. To successfully accomplish this, the team will build on its members’ existing expertise and work in the areas of WMD threat assessment, technology adoption and innovation, data-driven and expert-driven risk assessment methodologies, and global, multi-lingual computational information search and extraction. UWT-START’s role will be to facilitate the elicitation and integration of subject matter expertise into the overarching tool.
Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT): DARPA Sigma+ Project
UWT is seeking highly driven, outstanding students to participate in cutting-edge research on CBRNE adversary activity funded by DARPA. These tasks cover an array of research techniques and subject areas including quantitative methods, adversary modelling, and chemical weapon development. The primary purpose is to assist DARPA in the development of innovative approaches for detecting CBRNE activity. Responsibilities and duties will include the following:
- Assisting UWT staff with red teaming exercises and workshops. This will include:
- Organizing and designing participant handbooks
- Participating in red teaming exercises
- Data collection and preliminary analysis of participant outputs (scenario components and search histories).
- Assist staff with scenario construction
- Compiling and conducting preliminary analysis of red team exercise output data
- Assist staff members with identification of observable indicators of CBRNE attacks that could be identified by intelligence analysts.
Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT): Advanced Research Internship
Designed for highly motivated, high-performing students, Advanced Research Interns participate in high-level substantive research and analysis for a variety of projects within the broader unconventional weapons and technology portfolio. Past Advanced Research Interns were tasked with projects such as designing models of insider threats in the aviation system, conducting imagery analysis of nuclear facilities to determine vulnerabilities, and assessing sophisticated engineering capabilities of terrorist and criminal organizations. This internship provides an opportunity for extremely capable students to engage in research in a manner that is akin to a staff researcher at START and provides greater levels of responsibility and participation in real-world projects than many other internships. More advanced terrorism concepts and analytical skills are explored and developed in a collaborative, team-based environment. Advanced Research Interns may be involved in multiple projects simultaneously and have the opportunity to help transition projects into a variety of mediums and publications, including potential opportunities for co-publications.
UMPD/START Crime Research and Analysis
START will be working with the University of Maryland Police Department’s Analysis team to offer a limited number of intern positions for the UMPD/START Crime Research and Analysis project. Students will be tasked with conducting open source research and gathering information on existing groups carrying out attacks, as well as research related to the university and methods of keeping the university up to date and aware of items surrounding these issues. Specific areas of research might include:
- Ultra conservative/Antifa
- Active shooter/ Domestic terrorism
- Lone Wolf/Homegrown violent extremists (HVE)
- Comparison of campus venues’ protocols (across the US)
Interns will also assist the Information Analysis Unit with collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to daily/weekly assignments. These include tactical, operational, and strategic reports.
Why choose an internship at START?
- Experience working with a large team of dynamic and experienced researchers.
- Exposure to cutting edge theories and methods.
- Deepen your understanding of current issues in terrorism and homeland security.
- Work on projects of immediate interest to the practitioner and policy community.
- Hone and develop a range of transferable skills attractive to future employers.
- Opportunity to work with and meet other students and researchers with similar interests.
- Enrichment activities offering wide opportunities for learning and personal growth, schedule includes simulations, career presentations and research talks.
- Mentorship from START staff and researchers in a successful professional environment.
- Internships can be undertaken for academic credit (depending on approval from your institution and department).
General requirements
Applicants for all internships must:
- Have a good academic record.
- Demonstrate an interest in the subject matter.
- Be able to complete their internship work hours on site at START.
- Agree to attend orientation and training.
- Submit an application by the deadline, all application packets must include:
Each project may have additional requirements, including minimum credit hours, preferred majors and compulsory meeting times.
How to apply
Priority application deadline Fall 2018: Sunday, June 17, 2018; 11:59pm
Final application deadline Fall 2018: Sunday, July 8, 2018; 11:59pm
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Yours sincerely,
Eva
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Eva CollExperiential Education Specialist
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
University of Maryland
