Application Process

Thank you for your interest in our iSTEP program. The application deadline for iSTEP 2010 has now passed and our team has been selected.

[Please note this page includes past information as a reference for applicants in future years with some details for students involved with iSTEP 2010. The page will be updated with new details closer to the deadline for the iSTEP 2011 program.]

Summer 2010 Program Application Timeline

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - Application system opens
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 – Deadline for student applications
(11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time). No late applications will be accepted.
Friday, November 13th, 2009 – Email notification of first-round finalists selected for interviews and notification to applicants not selected as finalists.
Friday, December 4, 2009 – Notification of final selection of interns
Monday, December 21, 2009 – Deadline for selected interns to confirm their acceptance of our internship offer

Selection Criteria

This internship requires the involvement of students with high levels of dedication, organization, academic achievement, team work and cross-cultural adaptability. We work with the selected interns as much as possible during the spring semester to prepare them for their summer internship and are in constant communication with them throughout the summer, but we also ask them to prepare themselves for a challenging and rewarding experience through their own reading and research.

Eligibility

Students from all academic disciplines from the Pittsburgh and Doha campuses of Carnegie Mellon University are welcome to apply. If you are from another Carnegie Mellon campus and are really interested in this program please contact us in advance of the application deadline with your resume and a brief statement with your reasons for wanting to apply.
Students from universities other than Carnegie Mellon are not eligible to apply.
Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for this program. Graduating students are welcome to apply. Juniors, seniors and graduate students are preferred. First year undergraduates are not eligible for this program. We will consider exceptional sophomores.
Students are welcome to apply regardless of nationality or ability to travel. We have provided the opportunity for one student stationed in their home campus of Pittsburgh or Doha to participate in this internship.

Requirements

Selected interns must be able to commit to full-time work from late-May through early August.
Selected interns must be able to take the mandatory mini course offered during the 1st Spring 2010 mini (January to March, Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Pittsburgh time). The course is entitled “iSTEP Technology Field Research in Developing Communities” (Course Number: 15-302A3). Selected interns must also attend logistical preparation sessions during the spring semester leading up to the start of the internship. These sessions will be coordinated via video conference if we have students from multiple campuses selected for the team.
Selected interns must enroll in an independent study for credit in the 2nd Spring mini to continue their preparatory work related to their projects and their individual role in the internship team.
Applicants must complete the online application and form and provide contact information for references and all supporting documents by the application deadline.
Students must verify through the online form that they are in good academic and conduct standing with Carnegie Mellon University and that the program organizers have their permission to check their academic and disciplinary records for any violation of community standards as part of the application process.

Other Criteria

Involvement with other TechBridgeWorld activities or past experience with technology and development work will be a strong factor in the selection process.
We prefer to select some students who will be returning to campus to continue their studies after their summer work so that they can share their experiences with students who have not had that experience and who can help recruit future participants in the program.

Application Procedure

Before applying to this program please consider any personal or academic commitments that will affect your involvement in this summer internship program and the spring preparations leading up to the summer program. Take into consideration any constraints related to your research obligations, family commitments, health issues, etc. as you decide whether to apply for this opportunity and whether you would like to submit your application for either the Bangladesh or on-campus positions, or both. Please see our Current iSTEP page for details about our specific projects and team roles for iSTEP 2010.

When you are ready to apply, please complete the online application form and upload any supporting documents. You will then receive email confirmation when we have received your completed application and we will select a group of finalists who will participate in an interview process before we make our final selection of the team. Once we have notified students of their selection they will have one week to commit to our internship offer.