REAP's China Internship Program - Summer 2011

Informational Session on FSI Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
Informational meeting for undergraduates will be held on February 15, 2011, at 4 PM in Bechtel Conference Center, Encina Hall. Discussion and Q&A with faculty program directors, members of the research teams, and former interns. Refreshments will be served.

Introduction

FSI is seeking applications for three paid research internships with the Rural Education Action Project (REAP) that will include work in China during summer quarter 2011. The undergraduate research team will spend approximately two weeks in China and several weeks planning and completing a project in the U.S. The team will be joined by Stanford faculty member Scott Rozelle, the Farnsworth Senior Fellow and director of REAP, members of REAP's research staff and REAP partners in China from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

REAP's mission is to conduct real-world research that can help shape successful policies that improve the educational experience of young Chinese rural and migrant students. The internship program is intended to engage undergraduates in collaborative research to address real world problems. The internship is a valuable opportunity to provide students with unique exposure to grassroots China - ordinary people and communities around the country seeking better livelihoods.

Preference will be given to juniors/rising seniors and students with Chinese ability. Visit http://reap.fsi.stanford.edu for more info on REAP.

Eligibility and Application

The program is open to Stanford sophomores and juniors with a minimum GPA of 3.3. Applicants will be required to provide:

• statement of interest (one page maximum)
• curriculum vitae or resume
• copy of transcript (unofficial copy acceptable)
• faculty letter of reference to be sent directly from the referee to FSI (can be brief)

Send the application materials to Veronica Marian (vmarian@stanford.edu) at FSI, and ask your faculty referee to send the letter of reference directly to FSI. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated a commitment to poverty alleviation, global development, and service learning. The selection committee will strive to assemble a team of students reflecting divergent academic interests, ideally one from each of the social, natural, and applied sciences.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FEBRUARY 22, 2011.

Project Requirements

Students on the China research team will be expected to work collaboratively to:

• Develop a research proposal that will add to or enhance the ongoing research of REAP;
• Carry out the proposed research over a two-week period on site under the supervision of Scott Rozelle and his designees;
• Create a team blog and photo journal to record impressions;
• Prepare a presentation and written report on the team's research findings to deliver to REAP; and
• Create a poster on your research project that will be displayed at FSI's fall 2011 open house.

Proposed Itinerary

• Spring quarter 2011-U.S.
  Interns will meet with Scott Rozelle, director of REAP, and his research team several times to discuss  and refine the focus of the research project, its objectives and approach, and to prepare for field visits in China.
• Summer quarter 2011 (expected dates: June 18-July 1)- China
  The first week will be spent in Beijing and will include briefings, lectures by experts, roundtable discussions with Chinese economists and social scientists, visits to migrant communities, interviews in schools, observations, home visits, and guided research.
  
  The second week will involve travel to a rural county in northwest China, and will include visits to schools, hospitals, clinics, government offices, farms, factories, and homes.
• Summer quarter 2011 - U.S.
  Students will use the remainder of the summer, connecting with one another remotely, to complete the final report and preparing a poster and presentation.
  

A detailed itinerary will be available in spring quarter.