NEW Science Writing Fellowship

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Science Writing Fellowship

Science Writing Internship

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) science writing internship provides outstanding science journalism students with an opportunity to report on research in the disciplines that comprise the plasma sciences in general and fusion research in particular.

Writing intern works ten 40-hour weeks on science news and feature stories for Hotline (an internal employee newsletter), news releases, web stories, and videos. Duties include researching, writing, and editing science news stories and non-technical articles, fact checking, tracking down story ideas, reporting, and writing news briefs and short bios for the newsletter and web site. Also includes developing content for web and social media sites, and producing short videos to accompany stories or that describe scientific research and engineering. PPPL hires one intern for the 10 weeks. We seek candidates with a strong background in journalism and an interest in science; preference will be given to candidates who are enrolled in an advanced degree science-writing program. PPPL's Information Services Office has two full-time professional writers/editors who work with the interns. The intern will be on equal footing with the permanent staff. There will be opportunities for the intern to assist with special events and media relations activities.

Minimum qualifications: Intern must be full-time student at an accredited college or university and must have a strong interest in science-related journalism. Must be a U.S. citizen. Experience producing short videos for the web a plus.

Salary: Intern will receive a stipend of $4,800 in addition to transportation to and from their university or permanent U.S. address. The program pays for housing for the 10 weeks.

Internship Date: June 7-August 13, 2010.

Application Information:
To apply, please e-mail a cover letter, resume, three writing samples (clips preferred) and two letters of recommendation to:

Patti Wieser, Information Officer
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
pwieser@pppl.gov

Application Deadline: March 31, 2010

About PPPL:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by Princeton University, advances the coupled fields of fusion energy and plasma physics. The 400-person Laboratory is on the Forrestal Campus of Princeton University.

 

2010 Programs - Online Applications Now Available

We are now accepting applications for all of our 2010 programs. Undergraduates are invited to apply for either a National Undergraduate Fellowship or a Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship. High School Students are invited to apply to our Summer Internship Program. High School and Middle School teachers are eligible for our Plasma Camp professional development workshop. Registration for our Young Women's Conference is also available. Further information and eligibility requirements are available by following the "Programs" link above.

  26th Anniversary of Science on Saturday

The 26th annual Science-on-Saturday program — a series of nine talks on topics ranging from cell to cell communication to the science of music — is scheduled for January 9th through March 13th. The talks begin at 9:30 a.m. on designated Saturdays and usually run about two hours. The program is geared toward high school students, but all campus and local community members are invited to attend the free lectures in the Gottlieb Auditorium on the Forrestal Campus.

A link to the schedule and brochure can be found here.

PPPL Visitor Information and directions can be found here.

 

Outstanding Student Awards

At the 51st American Physical Society's Division of Plasma Physics conference in Atlanta, 3 awards were given to students for "Outstanding Undergraduate Poster." One of the students was a participant in the National Undergraduate Fellowship Program (NUF), and two were Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) students.

They were:

• NUF
  • Sean McGuire, Whitworth College
• SULI
  • Maximillian Swiatlowski, Harvard College
  • Jacob Nichols, Cornell University

Dusty Plasma Experiment Team Takes Flight

Four students from The College of New Jersey who collaborated with PPPL took their Dusty Plasma Experiment (DPX) on a special zero gravity flight in June, 2008. Team DPX went to NASA's Microgravity University in Houston to carry out, "Using Fluorescent Dust to Obtain a Three-Dimensional Analysis of a Dusty Plasma," in a weightless environment aboard a DC-9 plane affectionately known as the "Vomit Comet." Team DPX includes Brandon Bentzley, leader Mike Hvasta, Justin Nieusma, and Rachel Sherman. PPPL Science Education Program Head Andrew Zwicker was one of the team's advisors. The DOE Office of Science-Fusion Energy Sciences provided some funding. For more information go to the team's personal website here.