Help the Center for Middletown Studies Mentor Undergraduate Student Researchers!

For many students, paid internships offer the opportunity to prepare for the future without having to sacrifice financial stability. These experiences have become an increasingly important way for them to complement or deepen their academic training and prepare for careers.  But they are not equally accessible. Students without independent resources often have to choose between paid work and an internship.   

While the Center for Middletown Studies has a long history of providing student research experiences, this program will widen access to them by funding paid internships that allow students to engage in hands-on sociocultural research without sacrificing earning potential. Our paid research internship program will provide two undergraduate students with 5-10 hours of paid work per week (up to $1500/term), during which time they will be mentored in interdisciplinary research methods.  Much of the work will concentrate on Muncie—the site of the original Middletown studies conducted by Robert and Helen Lynd—and on similarly situated communities.

During their internships, students will meet regularly with professor mentors to train them in best practices in various disciplines.  Activities may include observing community meetings, conducting participant observation, mapping, interviewing, analysis employing digital tools and methods, and archival research. Paid internships can lead to public presentations and co-authorship on research publications.

Our goal is to raise $3,000 to fund two internships during 2023-2024.

**Any additional funds raised will be used for future fund expenses**