Graduate Immersion Program

The Office of Applied Innovation seeks two to three graduate students for an immersive training program that will empower them to advance their own applied project(s) in service of the Office mission. This position is intended for graduate students who already have an applied project in development and who seek to advance their project in a collaborative, interdisciplinary, mission-driven environment.

The immersion places students in a 30-week (spring and summer semesters, 2021), 20 hours per week (.50 FTE) position that reports to the Director, Strategy and Partnerships. Participants will receive a stipend of $11,000 for the spring semester and $6,600 for the summer semester.

Virtual Information Sessions and Office Hours

Interested in how to build a competitive, mission-aligned proposal? The Office of Applied Innovation is hosting virtual information sessions and office hours. Please fill out this form to RSVP for an information session and/or office hours.

Information Sessions:

(1) Wednesday, October 14, 4:00-4:45p 

(2) Tuesday, October 27, 3:00-3:45p 

Office Hours:

(1) Monday, November 2, 12:00-2:00p

(2) Thursday, November 5, 1:00-4:00p

What Graduate Interns Do

Over the course of the program graduate interns will:

  • Advance a project-based idea within an interdisciplinary, fast-paced, collaborative environment. 
  • Contribute to the development and refinement of an Applied Innovation curriculum for future versions of the Graduate Immersion program based on the processes and practices tested in this pilot.
  • Develop mutually-beneficial partnerships with mission-aligned internal and external stakeholders.
  • Design, contribute to, and participate in professional development and training opportunities.
  • Provide occasional support to staff on projects related to areas of development and interest.

Ideal graduate intern projects will:

  • Directly align with the Office of Applied Innovation mission, such that they advance ASU’s teaching and learning missions and/or expand educational or economic opportunity to the communities we serve within ASU, in Arizona, in the United States, and/or globally.
  • Have a clear deliverable or result to present within the 30 weeks. Deliverables could include: prototype, policy brief, sustainability plan for the project following the internship, pilot data, etc. 
  • Situate the proposed project/idea within the context of the possible outcomes and potential benefits.

Example projects: 

  • Developing a tool that assists formerly-incarcerated individuals with access to re-entry resources.
  • Prototyping technology to help individuals connect the current skills they have to advanced career pathways and educational offerings.
  • Designing a specific place-based poverty solution in partnership with a nonprofit organization.
  • Working on a technology tool that would improve reading and writing for K-8 students. 
  • Developing a program or initiative that would help ASU's new students more effectively navigate and access available resources.

Appointment Details

Applied Innovation Graduate Interns: 

  • Are 30-week long appointments (January 11 – August 6, 2021) at 20 hours per week (0.50 FTE).
  • Are not required to be enrolled in classes in the summer but need to be enrolled for at least 1 credit in the spring and fall 2021 semesters.
  • Are paid a stipend of $11,000 in the spring and of $6,600 in the summer.
  • Do not have any health benefits, but are eligible for health insurance through student health (https://eoss.asu.edu/health/billing-insurance/coverage-options).

Become an Applied Innovation Graduate Intern

Eligibility and Qualifications

Applications for the Applied Innovation Graduate Immersion are invited from those who:

  • Are current graduate students at Arizona State University in good academic standing. Master’s, Doctoral, and Professional (e.g., law, MBA) degree-seeking students are all welcome to apply. Students must be registered for at least one credit hour in the spring and fall semesters of 2021 to be eligible.
  • Are authorized to work in the United States (Applicants must be either a citizen of the United States or be able to maintain work authorization throughout the fellowship. Arizona State University does not offer visa sponsorship to candidates for the immersion program.)
  • Are able to commit for the entire duration of the program from January 11, 2021 – August 6, 2021.

Successful Candidates

We seek candidates with a passion for problem solving and who wish to utilize their unique talents to advance Arizona State University’s charter and our office’s goals of expanding access to educational and economic opportunity. Successful candidates will exhibit the following qualities:

  • Creative problem-solving skills, learning agility and ability to adapt to change quickly
  • Experience in making adjustments to project strategy and implementation
  • Comfort working with emerging technologies and their economic/social implications
  • Capacity to perform in a fast-paced environment
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to connect people, groups and organizations
  • Self-motivation, teamwork-orientation and entrepreneurial spirit

How to Apply

 Applicants must create a single Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) document that includes the following components, in this order:

  • Cover letter (addressed to Luke Tate, Managing Director)
  • Resume (2-page maximum) 
  • Contact information for three academic or professional references (phone and email)
  • Executive summary of proposed idea (not exceeding two pages in length), inclusive of:
    • What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon and in only 100 words. 
    • How is your problem or challenge of interest currently being addressed? How is your solution different from or an improvement on the current practice or solution?
    • What is new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
    • Who cares? Who are your target populations or users? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
    • How is it socially embedded? What are the opportunities to collaborate (across ASU, with policymakers, with community partners, etc.?)
    • What are the risks? What challenges do you anticipate?
    • What resources does it require?
    • How long will it take?
    • What can you accomplish within time constraints of the immersion program? What will your deliverables be?
    • What are the midterm and final “exams” to check for success? How will you know you’ve succeeded?
  • There are no formatting requirements beyond the page limit. Please produce a document that is brief, accessible, and readable.

Application materials should clearly exhibit the qualifications listed above under “Eligibility and Qualifications.”

Please email your application to appliedinnovation@asu.edu by 11:59 PM on November 6, 2020, with the subject line “2021 Graduate Immersion Application.”

Interviews may be held before the application deadline. Applications will be considered until suitable candidates are identified. 

Timeline

  • Applications are due: November 6, 2020 by 11:59pm, AZ time.
  • 1st & 2nd Round Interviews: November 10-19, 2020 (Interviews may take place earlier for applications submitted prior to November 6, 2020.)
  • Selection Notifications: November 20, 2020
  • Appointment: January 11, 2021 – August 6, 2021