Science and Technology Internship Program

The Science and Technology Internship Program helps employers hire recent graduates in science, engineering or business by partially funding salaries and offers an opportunity to recent graduates to gain relevant and meaningful work experience.

Interns are invited to work on natural resource sciences projects of commercial potential, in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Partners
Any company or university that works in the fields of geomatics, geology, mining, forestry and energy. 

Eligible Interns
Interns are youth under the age of 30 who:

• are unemployed or underemployed;
• have graduated within the last two years, with a college or university degree; and
• are legally entitled to work in Canada.  

Participation of youth from employment equity groups is encouraged (women, Aboriginal, visible minorities and people with disabilities).

Eligible Activities

Activities may include all aspects of the innovation or technology process, comprising bench level research, scale-up testing, pilot plant operations, analytical testing, calibration, technical documentation and field tests, work in the fields of geomatics and geology, as well as environmental work in earth sciences, mining, forestry and energy.

Deadline

2010-03-31

Summary

How does it work?
Partnerships are targeted to provide internship opportunities that are within NRCan's mandate. The Department assesses internship proposals received from partners, using this program criterion and the objectives of the Science and Technology Internship Program.

Interns will work under the direction of experienced scientists on cutting edge research and development projects with partners committed to bringing research to commercial application. The intern is an employee of the partner.

Interested youths do not have to apply with NRCan. They are encouraged to market themselves directly to eligible partners of NRCan as possible candidates for internships under this program.

Interested partners should get in touch with their established departmental contacts or the contact person listed below.

Internships start at any time throughout the year, based on project requirements and funding available. Natural Resources Canada is presently accepting new applications, as funds for the program will be available until March 31, 2009.

What are the partners' obligations?
Employers will:

• provide a work plan and budget (including the salary paid to the intern) for a project with a duration of six to twelve months;
• recruit, hire and match youth to projects;
• provide supervision, training, and direction to ensure a meaningful work experience;
• provide the intern with a performance evaluation at the end of the internship;
• secure commitment from the intern to participate in a post-internship employment survey; and
• at the end of the internship, provide to the program manager a financial statement of the project.

What are the interns' obligations?
Interns will: 

• prepare a summary report of work performed during the project indicating employment-related experience gained to be submitted to the program manager;
• agree to participate in a post-internship employment survey.

Funding

• The maximum contribution per internship from NRCan will be $12,000 over a maximum of 52 weeks; the funds will vary depending on the employer's needs.
• Partners must match funds with at least an equal amount in salary.

*Note: "non-profit" also known as nonprofit organizations, non profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, voluntary organizations and volunteer organizations.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Mr. Anthony Leclerc
Planning Officer
Client Information
Natural Resources Canada
18th Floor
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E4
Telephone: 613-996-5073
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-996-4397
E-mail: aleclerc@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/index-eng.php