SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

PacVec partners with agencies in the region to host an intern. These interns may receive financial support from PacVec or may be funded by the partner agency. As a part of the experience, interns gain exposure to multiple aspects of the partner agency and are expected to conduct a project supervised by a designated agency staff member. All interns will become a part of the PacVec trainee network, and will meet weekly throughout their internship to network, prepare a conference presentation, and develop professional skills. PacVec interns will have an opportunity to present their projects at a virtual intern symposium at the end of the summer and will develop a poster or oral presentation to present at a vector control or public health meeting in 2027. PacVec will financially support the intern’s travel to a vector control or public health meeting to present their internship project.

Please note this is a typical timeline but is somewhat flexible based on what works best for your agency.

2025:

• November: partners submit interest form 
• December: partners contacted included notification of any funding awarded

2026: 

• January: recruitment materials developed in collaboration with PacVec
• February/March: recruitment and project selection
• April: interns selected 
• May-August : intern cohort meets weekly via Zoom, internships run during this period
• September: interns have the option to present at a virtual cross-center intern symposium 

Fall/winter: interns submit abstracts to present at a vector control or public health meeting in 2027

2027:

• Spring: intern presents at a vector control or public health conference 

Examples of previous internship projects: 

• Investigating Aedes aegypti Suppression Using Small-Scale Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and Wide Area Larvicide Spraying (WALS)
• Sending mosquitos to their graves: a study on potential novel mosquito control methods in cemeteries
• Methods to determine Aedes aegypti age structure in the Los Angeles basin
• Investigating the range of recently introduced Aedes aegypti
• Surveillance and Identification of Culicoides biting midges
• Investigating the vectors of a newly recognized spotted fever group Rickettsia in Northern California
• Monitoring insecticide resistance in local Culex populations

PacVec has funding available to support summer interns and awards financial support to agencies who would otherwise not be able to host an intern. If your agency is able to pay an intern (many do this as a seasonal employee), PacVec will still provide support in a number of other ways including advertising the position to local 2- and 4-year colleges, project consultation, internship guidance, networking opportunities for the intern, conference presentation preparation, and financial support for the intern to attend a conference.

PacVec expects to financially support at least 3-6 awards of $1,000-$5,000 each. Funding amounts per project will vary based on the total number of proposals received, quality of proposed internship experiences, and identified needs for financial support. Awards are intended to support internships that can be completed during summer 2026. Funding must be used exclusively to support the intern(s).

These small grants are supported through federal flow-through funds from CDC. If your institution requires budgeting for indirect costs, they must be included within the requested amount.

Proposals are invited from vector control and public health agencies in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and the US-affiliated Pacific Islands.

A final report will be due 60 days after the end of the project period.