Internship in Scientific Publications
The Texas Heart Institute’s Internship in Scientific Publications offers students an excellent opportunity to learn the publishing process and to gain experience in preparing medical manuscripts for publication. The program offers participants on-the-job exposure to the field rather than curriculum-based formal training. The 5 professional editor/writers on the publications staff provide editorial services to more than 150 Texas Heart Institute physicians and researchers and to the residents, fellows, and technicians who train under them.
In assisting the editorial staff, the intern will learn to review manuscripts for correctness in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and format, as well as for style and clarity. Interns are given increasingly difficult projects that include compiling information for writing and editing projects (database, Internet, and library searches), formatting manuscripts for submission to publishers, copyediting and writing of appropriate projects, composing correspondence concerning manuscripts, and proofreading galleys. During the summer, the intern will also be asked to work with the Scientific Publications database, which is used to track each project that our editors work on.
An initial offer of part-time employment for the fall, spring, or summer semester is made to the intern. The internship may last longer than 1 semester but no longer than 1 year.
Qualifications
Eligible students include undergraduate andgraduatestudents in English, journalism, or science who are interested in scientific/technical editing or writing. The applicant must have strong skills in writing, grammar, and usage and must be able to pass a short grammar and editing test. Applicants should also be detail-oriented, motivated, cooperative, and dependable and have good reading comprehension skills, an ability to work with medical/technical subject matter, and adequate typing skills. Computer literacy and Internet search experience are desirable. A professional manner and appearance are expected. Exposure to medical terminology is helpful but not required.
Credit
At the end of the internship, the Texas Heart Institute awardsa certificate of completion.
Length of Internship
The internship lasts 1,2, or 3 semesters (maximum, 1 year), and the intern should be able to work a flexible schedule of 10 to 20 hours per week. During the summer, the intern may work 32 to 40 hours per week.
Compensation
The standard pay rate for interns is $8.00 per hour. Students will receive discounts on hospital services, including the cafeteria and pharmacy, but as part-time employees, they will not be eligible for health or life insurance, paid holidays, sickleave, or vacation.
Contact:Stephen Palmer, Section of Scientific Publications, the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, P.O. Box 20345, Mail Code 1-194, Houston, TX 77225-0345, Telephone: (832)355-8902, FAX: (832)355-3714; e-mail: