Internship & Research Funding

Many valuable internship/research opportunities for students are unpaid or provide minimal financial support. CMES is pleased to offer internship/research funding to undergraduate and graduate students in good standing for internships or research experiences related to Middle Eastern or North African studies in affiliation with a research institute or institution of higher education (IHE). These awards may be used for internships/ research experiences online and/or in-person pending filing all proper travel authorizations/UA permissions. 

Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled University of Arizona juniors, seniors, and graduate students
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA

Award Details

  • Amount: $1000 (possibly up to $2000)
  • Can be used during summer 2024
  • This round of applications will focus on online or in-person research/ internship opportunities. 

Program Requirements

  • Internship/ research experience must be a minimum of 6 weeks or 100 hours in length.
  • Internship/ research experience must be related to the applicant’s academic/career goals.
  • Awards contingent upon:
    • Approval of the internship/ research experience if you are seeking formal credit by your home department. Please check with your department for specific internship/ research guidelines and application procedures. An approval letter from the department must be submitted to CMES before the internship/research support funds can be awarded.
    • Student’s acceptance to the Middle East-related internship/ or letter of academic affiliation with a research institute or IHE, in the US or abroad, that is in the CMES award letter. A copy of the official letter/email of acceptance must be submitted to CMES before the internship/ research experience support funds can be awarded.
    • Opportunities considered for this competition will be either virtual or in-person. 

Students who receive a CMES internship/ research experience award will be required, upon their return, to

  • Submit a report (maximum 2 pages) detailing how the internship/research experience will further your career/studies goals. Due date is two months after the end of the internship/ research period.
  • Submit 2-5 digital photos (png or jpeg format) of the experience.
  • Make a short presentation for other students about their internship/ research experience.
  • File all proper travel authorizations - if going internationally there is a UA International Travel Registry that students must complete to receive this award. 

Application Packet

  1. CMES internship/ research experience funding application (typed)
  2. Copy of internship/ research experience application and materials submitted to home department.
  3. Resume/CV
  4. Statement of purpose (maximum 500 words) explaining how this Middle East/North African studies-related internship/ research experience will further your career/studies goals
  5. Unofficial transcripts, if not already included in number 2 above
  6. Copy of the internship details (from the program’s website or other source) or the research proposal abstract and document of academic affiliation, including nature of online experience, program description, dates of program
  7. One letter of recommendation from an academic advisor or faculty member
  8. Estimated budget (living expenses), including any funds provided by the internship/ research organization

Application deadline: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 5PM Tucson time.  Please note that for the summer internship/research award application and the materials can now be sent in via email to jellison@arizona.edu 

Contact: CMES Associate Director Julie Ellison, (520) 621-8079, jellison@arizona.edu 

Internship Opportunities

Below are organizations and internships that students have acquired in the past. CMES does not guarantee these internships/research experiences will meet the requirements of individual UA departments, or that they will continue to meet CMES funding requirements. It is the student's responsibility to check all internship/ research details before applying. Some organizations do not have the full details of their internships online, or they may offer them sporadically. Students must confirm that the internships fit both departmental and CMES funding requirements.

Other Funding Opportunities

The Center for Middle Eastern Studies has limited funds to reimburse current University of Arizona undergraduate or graduate students for purchasing or renting a film for legitimate research purposes. The research must be in some way related to the Middle East or North Africa. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are expended.

Films that are accessible for free through sources like the University of Arizona Library or Pima County Public Library streaming services are not eligible. I can get you free access to films available on IMVBox through the end of the Spring 2021 semester while subscriptions last; send an email to myoung@arizona.edu.

We can reimburse a film for up to $50. In all cases, an itemized receipt showing that you paid for this film is required before reimbursement can be processed, but you do not have to make the purchase before applying. Once approved, reimbursement will be processed promptly.

Filling out this application does not guarantee reimbursement. Students will be chosen based on the strength of their applications and on available funds.

Application: https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ZcMP5DN6tqcuwK.