Job Opening Title:
Archives Intern
Name of Employer:
Carnegie Science
Job Site Location (City AND State):
Washington, DC
Application Deadline:
Minimum Degree Requirement:
Current MLIS graduate students from an American Library Associates (ALA) accredited Master’s program
Years of experience required:
Salary Range:
Unpaid internship – school credit
Job Opening URL:
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Include instructions for how to apply:
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Carnegie Science Archives is offering a part-time, unpaid internship opportunity for a graduate-level library or information science student for the Fall 2026 semester. The internship will provide hands-on experience supporting a variety of archives projects and the opportunity to develop practical skills that can be applied to future careers in archives and digital asset management. Interns may gain experience in areas including archival processing, ArchivesSpace, digitization, digital asset management, archival reference, research, and public outreach.
The internship will be supervised by the Carnegie Science Archivist & Digital Asset Manager, and the intern will be matched with one or more projects based on their skills and interests, as well as the priorities of the archives.
The position will be based at Carnegie Science’s Broad Branch Road campus in Washington, DC, and requires a commitment of at least one day per week for 12 weeks. Limited remote work may be possible for certain projects or tasks. The Fall 2026 internship is anticipated to start in September.
Please note: This internship is unpaid and is not eligible for salary, wages, employee benefits, or other forms of compensation.
POTENTIAL PROJECTS:
Interns may have the opportunity to work in one or more of the following areas, depending on their interests, skills, and the needs of the archives:
Arrangement and Description
– Process and rehouse a small collection of paper and photograph records
– Create basic records for unprocessed collections in ArchivesSpace
Collection Management
– Digitize legacy accession documentation and upload records to ArchivesSpace
– Assist with reviewing and updating the location database
Digitization and Digital Asset Management
– Digitize select archival photographs for preservation and access
– Upload and catalog assets in our digital asset management system
Reference and Outreach
– Conduct research in the collections to answer reference inquiries
– Write articles and social media posts about historical materials and stories from the Carnegie Science Archives
QUALIFICATIONS:
– Current MLIS graduate student enrolled in an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited master’s program
– Interest in and knowledge of archival principles and best practices
– Strong verbal and written communication skills
– Excellent time management skills
– Ability to commute to Carnegie Science’s Broad Branch Road Campus (5241 Broad Branch Road, NW, Washington, DC 20015)
– Availability for a minimum of one day (approximately 7 hours) per week.
ABOUT CARNEGIE SCIENCE:
Founded in 1902, Carnegie Science is an independent research institution that pursues scientific breakthroughs to transform our understanding of life, planets, and the universe. Carnegie Science researchers ask and answer the biggest questions of our time, defining new areas of study and leading bold investigations in the life and environmental sciences, Earth and planetary science, and astronomy and astrophysics. Building on more than a century of groundbreaking discovery, Carnegie Science advances basic science to expand the frontiers of knowledge for all. To learn more, visit carnegiescience.edu.
The Carnegie Science Archives holds over 1,500 boxes of archival records documenting the history of the institution. Its mission is to “preserve the historically significant records of the institution and make them available to institution personnel, scientists, historians, and other scholars. The archives document the activities of the institution’s administration and its research departments and the professional activities of its staff members.” As Carnegie Science prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2027, the archives will play a vital role in preserving and sharing its history. To learn more, visit carnegiescience.edu/about/
HOW TO APPLY:
Send a resume and cover letter to mdrain@carnegiescience.edu, with “Archives Internship” in the subject line.
QUESTIONS?
For questions about the internship, contact mdrain@carnegiescience.edu.