Museum Education and Employment Program

You're a great candidate for MEEP if you value...

Curiosity. MEEP Interns are curious about their surroundings. They value deepening their own understanding of the world and actively seek out knowledge, new ideas, and experiences.
Communication. MEEP Interns enjoy meeting and talking with new groups of people. They believe listening is just as, if not more, important than speaking when having conversations, and know that conversations are enriched when a variety of perspectives are included.
Collaboration. MEEP Interns value collaboration. They know that personal and collective growth comes from the ability to give and receive feedback. They are both critical and compassionate, and actively reflect on their experiences and their impact.
Coalition. MEEP interns are anti-racist. They want to be part of the momentum pushing our world toward equality and justice. They value ideas and experiences that are new, unknown, and different from their own and never shy away from imagining many ways to unite communities.

What does a MEEP intern do?

MEEP interns participate in an in-depth paid training program where they learn how to have science conversations through interactive and reflective workshops. They then engage Museum visitors in science conversations in Museum halls. 

In 2019, the American Museum of Natural History received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) called Next Generation Museum Conversations. This grant aims to develop and pilot a new facilitation and visitor engagement strategy that reflects current standards and research on science education and learning. The project will shift the training of its diverse cohort of college youth facilitators to prepare them to engage visitors in a deeper understanding of science, rather than simply conveying facts. For more information about the IMLS-Next Generation Museum Conversation Grant Project click here.

What is the MEEP schedule like? 

MEEP Interns are paid $16/hr and work 12 – 15 hours weekly for approximately 10 weeks.

Training Workshops

MEEP interns participate in interactive, reflective workshops and training modules that happen on-site at the Museum. Training is a mandatory component of the internship, and we encourage applicants to carefully consider if they can fully commit to the training dates outlined here before they apply: Monday - Friday June 5 - 9, Monday - Friday June 12 - 16, Tuesday - Saturday June 20 - 24, Monday - Friday June 26 - 30.

Working with Visitors

MEEP Interns are paid $16.00/hr and work between 12-15 hours a week (depending on their availability) after the completion of the training period. The MEEP summer  program will run between June 5 - August 11, 2023. During their tenure in the program, they can expect to complete up to 175 hours which includes the training period and other shifts.

The programs also host advisories, scheduled once a month, for continued reflection and professional learning about the variety of careers in science, museums, and education. Interns receive support for finding their next job or internship opportunity and an invitation to our Museum Alumni Network.

What are the job requirements? 

• You’re an undergraduate student.
• You’ve completed at least 1 semester of college but are not a senior. 
• You either live in New York City and/or attend school in New York City
  • Please note that the internship program does not cover housing costs or relocation expenses
• We particularly encourage students who self-identify as Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and/or first-generation college students to apply.

How do I apply? 

The application will open in March 2023.

• The form will ask you to:
  • Submit a PDF or Word Doc of your resume w/ 2-3 references. References should include Name of Reference, Relationship to you, Phone Number, Email Address.
  • Answer three short answer questions. We suggest you write your answers to the questions BEFORE starting the application via this form. (Answers should be a maximum of 1000 characters or 150 words each) 
    • How will this internship support your future career goals?
    • Describe a recent science conversation you had with friends or family. What did you discuss and why?
    • Reflect on a challenging obstacle that you have faced. What have you learned about yourself from that experience?