The Cognitive Evolution Group at University of Michigan examines the origins of the human mind through comparative studies of other primates, our closest relatives. Our summer 2022 internship will be based at the Cayo Santiago Field Station, part of the Caribbean Primate Research Center in Puerto Rico, for eight weeks between June 27 to mid August.

 

Students will:

• Participate in hands-on research on the cognition and behavior of monkeys
• Read scientific papers about comparative cognition and animal behavior
• Participate in a series of training modules on data coding and statistics
• Participate in professional development activities related to graduate school

 

Funding

• Cover costs of air travel from the domestic US to Puerto Rico
• Cover costs of lodging and local travel within Puerto Rico for the duration of the internship, as part of the research team housing and travel
• A living cost stipend to cover food and other supplies ($1500). Students with financial need that poses a barrier to participation should inquire with us about further support opportunities.

 

Eligibility

• This program is best suited for rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in biology, psychology, or a related field
• This program is aimed at students based at US or Puerto Rican universities
• For international students who are currently attending college in the US, please check to make sure participation is permitted. We are unable to sponsor any visas for this internship

 

Qualifications and requirements:

• Interns will spend 40 hours per week on research and professional development activities. This will include on-site outdoor field work at Cayo Santiago, which can be physically demanding. Break days may be staggered over the week.
• Students must comply with all medical policies from the University of Puerto Rico to access the site, including medical clearance and current COVID policies.
• No specific prior research expertise is necessary, but students should have familiarity with animal cognition and behavior from coursework or else be enthusiastic about learning about these topics.

 

How to apply: Return the completed application along with a copy of your resume to the Cognitive Evolution Group at the email cogevlabmanagers@umich.edu by April 1, 2022. Please otherwise direct any queries about the internship to that email address with the subject line: ‘Primate Field Internship Question.’