College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

Career Pathways Summer Internship Program

Employment type: Internship
Application Due Date: February 21, 2025

The Career Pathways Summer Internship Program offers experiential learning extension opportunities, beyond the traditional classroom, to create a pathway from collegiate to professional careers. Internships will take place during the summer semester, beginning May 21, 2025, and culminating on July 22, 2025.

 

The twelve paid, 10-week project-based internships (8 weeks are completed virtually) will explore subjects relevant to students' academic studies through hands-on experience with IFPA and the produce industry. There are three available internships in each of these four areas: 

 

• Food Safety Internship supporting the IFPA Food Safety Team. Interns will gain firsthand experience as to how federal food safety policy is developed, how foodborne illness outbreaks are handled, and how science and education promote an industry of risk-based preventive approaches. 

 

• Global Insights Internship supporting the IFPA Global Insights Team. Interns will gain firsthand experience in conducting research on industry and consumer trends, disseminating research findings to internal and external stakeholders, including industry members, allied industry partners, government and regulatory agencies, and more, to inform and publish research findings, development of technical and education information and programs, and guide industry practices. 

 

• Government Relations & Public Policy Internship supporting the IFPA Government Relations Team. Interns will gain firsthand experience working on the federal public policy issues impacting both the fresh produce and floral industry and the consumers it serves.

 

• Sustainability & SciTech Internship supporting the IFPA Sustainability and SciTech Team. Interns will gain firsthand experience of industry sustainability issues, science and technology solutions, regulatory and legislative policies, public and private investment, and related issues impacting industry

 

 

Internship Duration

• The Internships begin with a virtual “Kick Off and Orientation” on Wednesday, May 21 and 22, 2025 and conclude with an in-person Project Presentation “Wrap Up” Meeting Sunday, July 20 through Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in the Philadelphia area.
• Attendance at IFPA’s Washington Conference (June 8-12, 2025) and project presentation Wrap Up (July 20-22, 2025) are in-person, and the eight weeks of project work is done online. Attendance at all online meetings/calls and the in-person event/meeting are mandatory!
• Travel/hotel/meal expenses associated with the program in-person event/meeting are covered, as is a laptop and internet service for those who need it.

Internship Hours and Stipend

• Work Hours - Online work is part-time, approximately 20 hours over the eight “virtual” weeks.
• Stipend - Interns will receive a total stipend of $4,400 for the 10-week internship.

 

Minimum Qualifications: Must be a current Sophomore or Junior (rising Junior or Senior undergraduate student at the time of the summer of 2025 internship) in a STEM based, Agriculture or other degree program as indicated in each of the job descriptions at an accredited college or university in good standing. Funding for this position is grant-based, with the goal of promoting participation in the agriculture and food systems workforce by groups who are noticeably underrepresented in the field, including but not limited to women and people of color.

 

 

Application Timeline

• Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, December 9, 2024, through Friday, February 21, 2025. Please visit the Open Positionsunder Careers & Internships on the IFPA website.
• Faculty Letters of Recommendation must be received no later than Friday, February 28, 2025.

 

For questions about this opportunity email Barbara Hochman, Education & Programs Manager, Talent Attraction, at bhochman@freshproduce.com.