The Students in Life Sciences Abroad (STILSA) program is seeking a motivated student intern to support the development of international and cross-cultural opportunities with a focus on independent and individual experiential learning in the STEM disciplines. This position is ideal for a student interested in global STEM education, program development, and the integration of hands-on learning into higher education.
The intern will collaborate with Dr. Hamel (Molecular Genetics), Joi Brihm-Spann (ASC Career Success), and international partners to identify, design, and promote meaningful global education experiences for STEM students—both in-person and virtual. Regular virtual meetings via Zoom will be required, including some outside standard working hours to accommodate international time zones.
While English will be the primary language of communication, French language skills may be especially beneficial, as several STILSA partner organizations are in French-speaking regions.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development and strengthening of partnerships with universities, research centers, NGOs, and industry abroad interested in hosting OSU students for internships.
- Create and maintain digital and electronic resources (e.g. website content, contact database) to promote and document experiential learning opportunities within the STILSA program.
- Assist in outreach and communication efforts to engage students and partners.
Learning Outcomes
- Gain hands-on experience in international program development and collaboration.
- Strengthen communication and cross-cultural engagement skills.
- Develop an understanding of global perspectives in STEM education and workforce readiness.
- Build a portfolio of deliverables showcasing contributions to global experiential learning initiatives.
Duration & Credit
- The internship offers a flexible schedule (averaging 8 hours per week) and is designed to last ideally one year, with credit enrollment available each semester. (January 2026 is the expected start date of the internship, but the final start date will be determined once a candidate has been identified).
- Internship will be compensated.
Qualifications
- Current undergraduate or recently graduated undergraduate at Ohio State University (STEM disciplines, education, STEM education or related fields preferred, but all majors will be considered).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Interest in global learning, international collaboration, or STEM education.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with professionals abroad.
- High level of organization and attention to detail, especially when managing digital resources and coordinating across time zones.
How to Apply
- Interested applicants should email Dr. P. Hamel (hamel.16@osu) and J. Brihm-Spann (brihm-spann.1@osu.edu) and submit a statement of interest for the position along with a resume.


Scientific Thinkers is a student organization and volunteer program here at The Ohio State University. Through Scientific Thinkers, OSU students have the opportunity to positively impact the Columbus community by sharing their knowledge with elementary students by way of interactive lessons and experiments. The schools the organization serves are comprised largely of underrepresented minority students in STEM and have limited STEM resources within their school. Scholars students can benefit from joining Scientific Thinkers by gaining experience in teaching a unique age group, increasing their leadership skills, and expanding their ability to communicate their knowledge of STEM topics to a variety of age groups.
The teaching environment in these private/independent schools can be wonderful because of their small class sizes and their close-knit communities. At independent schools, quality isn’t just about test scores and college acceptances; it’s also the unique way that teachers maximize the potential of their students.

