The Children’s Participation in Environment Research Lab (CPERL) seeks one research intern
Internship Site: This training opportunity is located in the Children’s Participation in Environment Research Lab (CPERL) (Director: Mary Khetani, ScD, OTR/L) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) West Campus. CPERL is involved in interdisciplinary and multi-site research that leverages technology to improve knowledge about what it takes to ensure that young children have chances to take part in activities of daily life. Full participation is a primary goal for young children with special health care needs who receive rehabilitation services (e.g., occupational therapy). To learn more about CPERL, please visit: http://cperl.ahslabs.uic.edu
Internship Overview: We are seeking a talented and energetic individual to join our team for a mentored internship. Candidates should be able to clearly communicate a commitment to applying his or her programming skills to the rebuilding of an electronic health intervention targeting parents of young children with disabilities who receive rehabilitation services. Formative work on the intervention to establish its usability, acceptability, and preliminary effects have been completed and published. The successful candidate should also be able to communicate the value of obtaining a mentored research experience for their professional growth.
Responsibilities: The intern will commit to 16 hours per week over 12 months (start date in Fall 2019 is negotiable) to rebuild the prototype of the application for efficacy testing, from which an honors capstone project can be designed. The intern will have ongoing communication with our interdisciplinary research team to provide wireframes and input on the functional requirements for the optimization of the prototype during the rebuild, as well as a visualization student to develop enhancements for the prototype design in response to end user input.
Qualifications:
- Third year UIC honors college student in computer science who has competed relevant coursework.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Familiarity with word processing and data sharing software (e.g., MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Box) and access to other programs needed to produce deliverables.
- Prior research or industry experience is preferred
Funding: This is a 12-month training opportunity. The successful applicant will be eligible to receive a $5,000.00 scholarship award upon successful completion of the internship, as well as opportunities for acknowledgement and co-authorship on presentations and publications pending scientific contributions to the research.
Application Process: Applicants must electronically submit a cover letter (not to exceed 2 pages) outlining their professional background and professional interests and goals for the internship experience, a resume with details about course performance and prior work history, and contact information (name, mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number) of two professional references from persons who can comment on the candidate’s ability to successfully complete the research internship.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Following initial application review, select candidates may be invited to interview. An invitation is based on a candidate's demonstrated academic ability, depth of commitment to applying one’s skills to enhance translational pediatric rehabilitation research, and compatibility of professional interests and skill sets with ongoing projects in CPERL.
Application materials may be sent by e-mail to: mkhetani@uic.edu. Please direct inquiries about the positions and/or application process to:
Mary A. Khetani, Sc.D., OTR/L
Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
Affiliate Faculty, Department of Disability and Human Development
Programmatic Appointment, Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
1919 West Taylor Street, Room 316A
Chicago, IL 60612-7250
Telephone: 312-996-0942
Email: mkhetani@uic.edu
