NRCan Science and Technology Internship Program

Please note that, due to the vast interest in this program, all of the internships for the year 2006 have been filled. Therefore, there is no funding available for any further internships for the year 2006.  

The Science and Technology Internship Program provides an opportunity to recent graduates in science and engineering 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). Activities may include all aspects of the innovation or technology process including 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, forestry, energy, mines and minerals.

Eligibility Criteria

• unemployed or underemployed youths;
• have graduated, with a post-secondary diploma in a relevant science and engineering program, within the last 2 years;
• be 30 years of age or less;
• participation of youth from employment equity groups is encouraged (women, Aboriginal, visible minorities and people with disabilities);
• participants must be legally entitled to work in Canada; this includes Permanent Residents; and
• participants must not have participated in a related Youth Employment Strategy program previously.

Eligible Partners

• private sector organizations;
• non-federal government organizations including municipal and provincial governments; and
• universities/institutions.

Summary

• demonstrating that their implementation would support the objectives of the Youth Employment initiatives;
• outlining the activities to be performed in pursuit of the objectives;
• providing an estimate of expenditures to be incurred, including any share to be borne by partners; (leveraging) AND
• describe the results to be achieved.

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. The federal government supports this program through active participation in the project and financial contributions from the Youth Employment Initiative led by Human Resources Development Canada.

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. Fifty internships of up to one year in duration are available across Canada in each year of the program. The program began on 1 April 1997 and will end on March 31, 2008.

What are the interns' obligations?

• bring their knowledge, interest and enthusiasm to the project;
• prepare a summary report of work performed during the project and indicate employment related experience gained; and
• agree to participate in a post-internship employment questionnaire.

What are the partners' obligations?
Employers will:

• present a project proposal to NRCan;
• provide a work plan and budget for the project, including the salary paid to the intern;
• recruit, hire, and match youth to projects;
• provide supervision, training, and direction to ensure a meaningful work experience;
• assume responsibility for payment of wages and any other approved costs;
• provide the intern with a completed performance evaluation at the end of the internship;
• assist the intern in securing longer term attachment to the Canadian labour market;
• secure commitment from the intern to participate in a post-internship employment survey; and
• acknowledge the financial assistance of the federal government and NRCan.

Funding

• Science and Technology Internship Program funding is available as of 1 April 1997 until 31 March 2008 at $600 000 per year;
• the maximum contribution per internship from the Science and Technology Internship Program fund will be $12 000 over a maximum of 52 weeks;
• partners must match Science and Technology Internship Program funding with at least an equal amount in salary;
• additional funding through financial or "in-kind" contribution may be provided by the department or partner;
• suggested minimum salaries will be based on NSERC scholarship and fellowship minimum rates which are: BSc - $15 700 a year; MSc - $17 500 a year; PhD - $30 000 a year. The intern's actual salary will be negotiated with the employer.

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Contact(s):
See National Contact.