The National Cancer Institute (NCI), the largest of the 27 institutes and centers comprising the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the Federal Government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. The NCI coordinates the National Cancer Program, which conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients.
The NCI recognizes that health information dissemination is key in raising public awareness about new cancer treatments, support for cancer patients and their families, and prevention strategies. To that end, in 1975 the NCI established the Health Communications Internship Program (HCIP) to attract and develop individuals interested in careers in health communications and science writing.
The HCIP gives highly qualified graduate students and recent graduate degree recipients the opportunity to participate in vital health and science communications projects in one of the many offices that make up the NCI. Interns will select an area of emphasis: Health Communications or Science Writing. Six-month and one-year internship terms are available.
Successful Health Communications applicants have some science background as well as experience and/or education in any of the following areas: public health, epidemiology, public relations, health education, communications, science writing, statistics, social marketing, or journalism. Health Communications interns:
Plan, develop, and promote cancer education programs and materials (including Web-based) for the public, cancer patients, or health professionals
Gain experience in pre-testing and evaluating cancer prevention and treatment messages, publications, materials, and programs that reach the American public
Participate in professional meetings and training seminars
Successful Science Writing applicants have a science background with the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into material suitable for a lay audience. Science Writing interns:
Write fact sheets and press releases
Answer inquiries from the press
Attend and report on scientific meetings
Write feature length, creative articles on the latest, most important advances in cancer research
Participate in professional meetings and training seminars
Additional information about this program including an online application can be found by visiting http://hcip.nci.nih.gov.
***************APPLICATIONS FOR 2016 TERM ARE DUE BY MARCH 14th*******************************
Health Communications Internship Program (HCIP)
National Cancer Institute
Office of Workforce Planning and Development
9609 Medical Center Dr.
Rm 2E148 MSC 9758
Rockville, MD 20850
HCIP-Contact@mail.nih.gov
http://hcip.nci.nih.gov