Science Communications and Outreach Intern




In addition to applying online via BU’s BEST, interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Lauren Celano, CEO of Propel Careers at Lauren@propelcareers.com. Reference NTSAD Internship.

Description of Internship Project:

National-Tay Sachs & Allied Diseases Association (NTSAD) is a patient group based in Boston (Cleveland Circle) whose mission is to lead the fight to treat and cure Tay-Sachs, Canavan and related genetic diseases and to support affected families and individuals in leading fuller lives.

The Science Communications and Outreach Intern reports to the NTSAD Executive Director (“ED”) and will have responsibility to develop insights and knowledge regarding the disease areas and therapeutic programs being developed in this research area.    This internship will cover the following 4 areas described in more detail below:

  1. Key resource for scientific knowledge about diseases and therapeutic approaches
  2. Communications
  3. Coordinate and oversee the annual Research Initiative Request for Proposal (RFP) processes (including Million Dollar Bike Ride)
  4. Work with ED and other volunteers to organize and coordinate the scientific portion of the Annual Family conference, held in Spring of each year.

About NTSAD

The mission of the National-Tay Sachs & Allied Diseases Association (NTSAD) is to lead the fight to treat and cure Tay-Sachs, Canavan and related genetic diseases and to support affected families and individuals in leading fuller lives.  Founded in 1957, NTSAD was a pioneer in the development of community education about Tay-Sachs disease, carrier screening programs, and laboratory quality control programs. Today more than two million have been tested for Tay-Sachs disease, thousands of Tay-Sachs carriers have been identified and hundreds of healthy children have been born to high-risk couples.  For more information, go to www.NTSAD.org.

Professional Development Objectives/ Benefits to the intern:

Develop relationships with KOL’s and other researchers performing research in these disease area

Develop technical and non-technical writing skills to communicate disease relevant information to scientific and non-scientific audiences

Learn how a non-profit organization engages patients and the research community

Responsibilities of the intern: 

  1. Key resource for scientific knowledge about diseases and therapeutic approaches
  • Perform an analysis of the research landscape of the main diseases under the NTSAD umbrella (gangliosidoses: Tay-Sachs, Sandhoff, GM-1; Canavan disease).
  • Monitor new developments that may lead to treatments, maintaining a database of investigators, academic institutions and companies working in this disease space.
  • Attend major scientific meetings relevant to NTSAD (when available) and issue reports of relevant presentations, to be made available to scientific and lay communities.

 

  1. Communications
    • Edit monthly Research Review providing updates on research, funding, and other topics relevant to the NTSAD community. See link for a recent review: https://www.ntsad.org/index.php/docman/e-news/monthly-topic-of-the-week-research-reviews/348-2016-may-research-review-part-ii/file
    • Prepare written reports for board, donors, and/or families about research summarizing current state of knowledge in the field.
    • Support new program communication with families about research through webinars
    • Update content in Research section of NTSAD’s web site as needed

 

  1. Coordinate and oversee the annual Research Initiative Request for Proposal (RFP) processes (including Million Dollar Bike Ride)
  • Includes updating guidelines, outreach to solicit applications and reviewers, organizing scientific reviewers and their evaluations, gathering grant review summaries, and oversight of progress reports and other related administrative functions.
  • Assist ED in establishing procedures for evaluation, decision-making and awarding grants through benchmarking of similar organizations’’ procedures.
  • The timeframe for this work is mainly in the December to May timeframe

 

  1. Work with ED and other volunteers to organize and coordinate the scientific portion of the Annual Family conference, held in Spring of each year.

Description of Deliverable at Completion of Internship:

  • Market research report
  • Monthly newsletter development
  • Assistance with the annual conference
  • Assistance with grant evaluation and award process

Evaluation of the deliverable:

-During and at end of internship, manager will provide feedback and evaluation of performance verbally and write recommendation if desired.

Mentor/Reporting:

The Science Communications and Outreach Intern reports to the NTSAD Executive Director (“ED”)

Skills/Experience/Qualifications of Intern:

– At least Bachelors of Science in a science-related field; PhD preferred

– Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as organizational skills.

– Ability to translate and communicate complex scientific and medical information in lay terms to educate all constituencies of the organization.

– Ability to network within the scientific community.

– Experience with grants administration preferred but not required.

– Previous non-profit experience preferred but not required.

 

Internship Start and Duration:

Desired Start date: Late Summer/ Fall 2016

Duration (3 months, 6 months, other timeframe):  May 2017, end date

Desired Time Commitment:

Part-time: 10-20 hours/ wk

Compensation:  This position will be paid

Can work be performed remotely?

The Individual hired will have the opportunity to work on-site as well as remotely to accomplish tasks.