NRCan Science and Technology Internship Program

The Science and Technology Internship Program helps employers hire recent graduates in science and engineering by partially funding salaries and offers an opportunity to recent graduates 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).

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible partners are:

• private sector organizations;
• non-federal government organizations;
• non-profit* organizations;
• universities.  

Eligible interns must:

• be unemployed or underemployed youths;
• have graduated, with a post-secondary degree or diploma in a relevant natural science fields such as earth science, forestry, energy and mineral and metals, within the last 2 years;
• be 30 years of age or less;
• be legally entitled to work in Canada; this includes Permanent Residents or have been granted refugee status in Canada; 
• be a first-time youth participant in a placement of the Career Focus Program of the Youth Employment Strategy (YES);
• not be receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.  

Participation of youth from employment equity groups is encouraged (women, Aboriginal, visible minorities and people with disabilities).

Eligible Activities

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.

Summary

How does it work?

Partnerships are targeted to provide internship opportunities that are within the mandate of the department. The department assesses internship proposals received from partners, using this program criteria and the objectives of the S&T Internship Program such as:

• demonstrating that their implementation would support the objectives of the Youth Employment initiatives;
• outlining the activities to be performed in pursuit of the objectives of the department's mandate;
• providing an estimate of expenditures to be incurred, including any share to be borne by partners (leveraging);
• 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 and Social 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 April 1, 1997 and will end on March 31, 2008.

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.

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.

Funding

• Science and Technology Internship Program funding is available as of April 1, 1997 until March 31, 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.

*Note: "non-profit" also known as nonprofit organizations, non profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, voluntary organizations and volunteer organizations.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Ms. Joanne Laplante
Natural Resources Canada
6th Floor
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E4
Telephone: 613-995-6275
Fax: 613-947-0563
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-996-4397
E-mail: jlaplant@nrcan.gc.ca