A Food Science Internship is being offered at the USDA's National Agricultural Library's (NAL) Food Safety Information Center in Beltsville, MD for UMD students interested in food science and the related disciplines. The internship program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn about information management and technology, government processes, and food safety current trends and issues affecting consumers, educators, researchers and others interested in food safety. It also provides UMD students with the opportunity to earn elective credit in NFSC386 (Experiential Learning) while working in a government agency with other food science and information professionals.

Please note: Students must be attending the University of Maryland at College Park to be eligible for this opportunity.

Since the information needs of the food safety community are very diverse, intern projects may vary based on a student’s interest, the targeted audience and the needs of the NAL. Intern projects and deliverables will be reviewed and approved by a UMD faculty member and the NAL representative to receive full credit.

Examples of potential projects for the Fall semester include:

• Identify data and/or analyze data or trends found in the Food Safety Research Projects Database
• Develop information products on emerging food safety topics
• Analyze the use of information by the food safety community based on survey results and make recommendations
• Work on a database of food safety education and training materials from across the nation

The internship allows students to earn elective credit (3 to 4 credit hours) based on the amount of time they are available to intern at the NAL in Beltsville, MD during one semester.

The internship will begin in the Fall 2008 semester.

APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED.

Eligibility

• A UMD undergraduate student with at least 24 credit hours completed
• An interest in food safety, food science and related disciplines

Application Procedures

• Complete application found online on the Food Safety Information Center's Web site by clicking on the graphic on the right-hand of the web page announcing the internship
• Please send applications immediately for the Fall 2008 semester
• Applications will be reviewed, and candidates will be asked to interview with UMD and NAL representatives before being accepted for the internship

For more information, contact:
Yvette Alonso Haire, Coordinator
USDA National Agricultural Library
Food Safety Information Center
10301 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville MD 20705
301-504-7374
yahaire@nal.usda.gov