Careers

Summer 2023 (June-August)
Opportunity Announcement | Posted February 17, 2023

About Physicians for Social Responsibility

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to create a more healthy, just, and peaceful world. Throughout its history, PSR has provided a strong health-focused voice against the development and use of nuclear weapons. Our other major programmatic focus is climate change—another catastrophic disaster that threatens human health and survival. PSR is a co-founder and U.S. affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and as the U.S. affiliate of this global network, PSR shared in the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. PSR is also a partner organization in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. PSR has a national office in Washington, D.C., with chapters across the United States.

The Position

Physicians for Social Responsibility’s Environment and Health (E&H) program seeks virtual academic interns who are passionate about fighting climate change. Help PSR educate citizens and decision-makers about the urgency of addressing the climate health crisis, promoting clean renewable energy, and rejecting dirty fossil fuels that threaten to destroy a livable climate. Climate change has been called the greatest health threat of the 21st century – and, at the same time, the greatest health opportunity.  Your skills can help us fight for a livable climate.

Areas of Responsibility

The E&H virtual academic interns will work with the E&H program director on program activities and educational resources addressing topics like fracked gas, building electrification, clean energy, and a Just Transition:

• Assist with writing and disseminating educational and advocacy materials.
• Reach out to PSR members around the country to increase their engagement in advocacy and education.
• Write text for our website to maximize our impact. Summarize and explain key issues. Highlight PSR’s health-based resources and our chapters' key wins.
• Help set up educational webinars with guest speakers on energy, climate and health.
• Draft content like blogs, action alerts and social media.

Knowledge and Skills

Required

• Background in climate change required.
• Outstanding writing skills required.
• Ability to synthesize complex material and express ideas clearly and crisply.
• Strong work ethic and time management skills.
• Background in public policy, policy advocacy and/or public health a plus.

NOTE: Interns MUST be available to attend PSR meetings on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 10am-11am (Eastern Time).

Benefits of this Virtual Academic Internship

• Be a part of a small, dynamic team working to save the world – literally!
• National NGO experience will look good on your resume and get you past the dreaded “catch-22” of: need experience to get a job, need a job to get experience.
• This internship is guaranteed to help you combat apathy.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The PSR national office is currently open for PSR staff to work on site; however, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most staff are currently working remotely. Accordingly, PSR’s Academic Internship Program will remain virtual for the Summer 2023 term (June-August), although the opportunity to interact in-person with PSR staff might be possible (but is not guaranteed and should not be considered an expectation).

Due to the virtual nature of this internship opportunity, interns must:

• Have reliable access to the internet.
• Provide their own laptop computer for use during the internship.

Timeframe

Begin in June 2023, and end in August 2023. Dates and times are flexible, with interns ideally engaged approximately 30 hours/week for at least 8 weeks. Interns placed via a formal internship matching program are subject to any restrictions required by their sponsoring program.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submit your resume, cover letter/personal statement, two references, and two writing samples.

Applications will not be considered complete – and will not be reviewed – until all of the above noted items have been submitted.

Electronic submissions via email in PDF format are required: internships@psr.org
(Please write “Summer 2023 E&H Virtual Academic Internship” in the subject line)

No telephone inquiries, please.

PSR is committed to providing equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, religion, disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the opportunity.

About PSR’s Academic Internship Program

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) offers an Academic Internship Program designed in accordance with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) definition of an internship as a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths, and give employers such as PSR the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. Accordingly, as an educational experience, PSR’s Academic Internship Program conforms with the following NACE internship criteria:

1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
6. There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.

Eligibility

PSR’s Academic Internship Program is open to current undergraduate students as well as recent college graduates or students in graduate school.

In some instances, high school students may be eligible to participate in PSR’s Academic Internship Program, subject to certain criteria, including:

• At least 16 years of age.
• As part of formal academic training for credit authorized by the student’s high school.

Duration

Academic internships with PSR typically range from 20-36 hours per week for between 8-14 weeks. Dates and time commitment may vary for interns placed via a formal internship matching program.

As of January 1, 2023, all internships are 100% virtual, although the possibility for limited on-site interaction at PSR’s Washington, DC office may be possible.

Stipends

PSR offers paid internships.

• A flat stipend of $2,500 is provided, regardless of the duration of the internship.
• Interns must be engaged a minimum of 30 hours/week for a minimum of 8 weeks to be eligible to receive a stipend.
• Interns may not be engaged in another substantive internship program, or in other gainful employment, to be eligible to receive a stipend.
• Stipends do not represent compensation for work performed and are not considered wages or taxed as such, in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Summer 2023 (June-August)

Opportunity Announcement | Posted February 17, 2023

About Physicians for Social Responsibility

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to create a more healthy, just, and peaceful world. Throughout its history, PSR has provided a strong health-focused voice against the development and use of nuclear weapons. Our other major programmatic focus is climate change—another catastrophic disaster that threatens human health and survival. PSR is a co-founder and U.S. affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and as the U.S. affiliate of this global network, PSR shared in the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. PSR is also a partner organization in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. PSR has a national office in Washington, D.C., with chapters across the United States.

The Position

PSR’s Nuclear Weapons Abolition (NWA) program seeks virtual academic interns who are passionate about promoting peace and justice and who want to apply their skills to advocacy. Help PSR amplify the medical voice calling for nuclear disarmament here in the United States.

Areas of Responsibility

The NWA virtual academic interns will assist PSR’s humanitarian campaign on projects like:

• Working with PSR chapters and activists in eleven states to educate health professionals and the public on the injustice of nuclear weapons spending and the grave health risks of nuclear arsenals.
• Promoting PSR’s new #DemandAccess campaign to “rethink security with health in mind” – putting a higher priority on public health, equitable access to health care, and other human needs.
• Developing intersectional campaigns with social justice and environmental advocates by promoting a just transition to a sustainable society that has no need for nuclear weapons.
• Contacting local activists to compile a comprehensive calendar of events around the country in remembrance of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Utilizing social media to engage people under 35 years of age in our work.
• Supporting champions in Congress to oppose the current plan to spend $1.7 trillion replacing the current U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal with enhanced weapons.

Virtual Academic Intern responsibilities will also include:

• Participate in NWA program staff calls and/or Zoom meetings several times a
• Participate in monthly NWA program conference
• Track important updates in federal nuclear weapons policy
• Conduct research to contribute to resource materials for the PSR disarmament

Knowledge and Skills

Required

• Strong work ethic and time management
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, including when communicating
• Excellent command of the English
• Outstanding writing and research
• Ability to synthesize complex material and express ideas clearly and concisely.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented.
• Able to work remotely with intermittent

Helpful

• Experience with social media in a non-profit or political
• Background in public policy, advocacy and/or public
• Knowledge base on nuclear weapons issues is helpful, but NOT

NOTE: Interns MUST be available to attend PSR meetings on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 10am-11am (Eastern Time).

Benefits of this Virtual Academic Internship

• Be a part of a small, dynamic team working to save the world – literally!
• Learn the basics of operating successfully in the unique political environment of the non-governmental organization (NGO) community.
• Opportunities to network in the international policy NGO community in Washington, D.C.
• National NGO experience will strengthen your resume and help address the problematic situation of: “need experience to get a job, need a job to get experience.”
• PSR gladly works with students to help secure academic credit.
• This virtual academic internship is guaranteed to help combat apathy.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The PSR national office is currently open for PSR staff to work on site; however, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most staff are currently working remotely. Accordingly, PSR’s Academic Internship Program will remain virtual for the Summer 2023 term (June-August), although the opportunity to interact in-person with PSR staff might be possible (but is not guaranteed and should not be considered an expectation).

Due to the virtual nature of this internship opportunity, interns must:

• Have reliable access to the internet.
• Provide their own laptop computer for use during the internship.

Timeframe

Begin in June 2023, end in August 2023. Dates and times are flexible, with interns ideally engaged approximately 30 hours/week for at least 8 weeks. Interns placed via a formal internship matching program are subject to any restrictions required by their sponsoring program.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submit your resume, cover letter/personal statement, two references, and two writing samples.

Applications will not be considered complete – and will not be reviewed – until all of the above noted items have been submitted.

Electronic submissions via email in PDF format are required: internships@psr.org

(Please write “Summer 2023 NWA Virtual Academic Internship” in the subject line)

No telephone inquiries, please.

PSR is committed to providing equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, religion, disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the opportunity.

About PSR’s Academic Internship Program

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) offers an Academic Internship Program designed in accordance with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) definition of an internship as a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths, and give employers such as PSR the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. Accordingly, as an educational experience, PSR’s Academic Internship Program conforms with the following NACE internship criteria:

1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely
2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment
3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired
4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the
6. There is routine feedback by the experienced
7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.

Eligibility

PSR’s Academic Internship Program is open to current undergraduate students as well as recent college graduates or students in graduate school.

In some instances, high school students may be eligible to participate in PSR’s Academic Internship Program, subject to certain criteria, including:

• At least 16 years of
• As part of formal academic training for credit authorized by the student’s high

Duration

Academic internships with PSR typically range from 20-36 hours per week for between 8-14 weeks. Dates and time commitment may vary for interns placed via a formal internship matching program.

As of January 1, 2023, all internships are 100% virtual, although the possibility for limited on-site interaction at

PSR’s Washington, DC office may be possible.

Stipends

PSR offers paid internships.

• A flat stipend of $2,500 is provided, regardless of the duration of the internship.
• Interns must be engaged a minimum of 30 hours/week for a minimum of 8 weeks to be eligible to receive a stipend.
• Interns may not be engaged in another substantive internship program, or in other gainful employment, to be eligible to receive a stipend.
• Stipends do not represent compensation for work performed and are not considered wages or taxed as such, in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship pays a stipend for college graduates to work with NGOs in Washington, DC, including PSR, on arms control, peace, and security issues for six to nine months. PSR provides strong mentoring and professional development opportunities for Scoville Fellows from any discipline. Scoville Fellows at PSR can expect to be engaged in substantive work related to conducting outreach to doctors and allied health professionals to engage in nuclear disarmament advocacy. PSR is a US-partner of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and was a leading organization in the Humanitarian Movement that achieved the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Learn more about the Scoville Fellowship.