Job Opportunities
UMass Amherst is dedicated to providing as many opportunities for on-campus employment as possible to our graduate students. The best place to start is to inquire about funding from your degree program. Notify your Graduate Program Director if you wish to seek an assistantship elsewhere on campus. See the links below to learn about more available positions. Faculty and staff may use the On-Campus Graduate Assistant Vacancy Notice form to post an open graduate assistantship on this page.
Graduate Internship - University of Massachusetts Press
3 Publishing Internships at the UMass Press
Type: Internship
Department: University of Massachusetts Press
Hours per week: 5 hours, approximately 14 weeks
Hourly rate: GEO minimum
Appointment Dates: 3 appointments available with start dates in September 2024, February 2025, and May 2025
Priority Deadline: April 20, 2024
Job Description: The University of Massachusetts Press is pleased to offer three graduate internships during 2024-2025 as a way to learn about publishing careers. The Press seeks applications from advanced graduate students in the humanities or social sciences with an interest in scholarly publishing—especially those from communities underrepresented in scholarly publishing—to join our team and learn the functions and workflows of a scholarly publisher/university press. The publishing industry follows an apprenticeship model, wherein job experience is frequently the key qualification for both entry-level and advanced positions. In order to explore or launch a career in publishing, applicants generally begin as assistants, providing support to acquisitions and marketing staff. Based at the Amherst office of the University of Massachusetts Press, this internship will offer exposure to the workings of a university press and provide the experience necessary to land an entry-level job in the industry. As such, applications are encouraged from those with limited or no prior experience in the scholarly publishing industry.
Please note this search is for three interns for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025. The next search in March 2025 will be for Fall 2025 and beyond. If you are interested, please apply now!
The intern will carry out the following tasks:
- Under the supervision of staff at the University of Massachusetts Press, participate in training to learn the functions and workflows of a scholarly publisher/university press.
- Vet manuscripts and proposals. Research comparable projects. Participate in deliberations about which titles to pursue.
- Identify potential peer reviewers and track manuscript reviews
- Research areas of growth and emerging scholarly fields
- Assist authors with manuscript preparation, formatting, art preparation, and permissions
- Learn in-house systems, including Title Management and Manifold
- Write and proofread cover, catalog, and marketing copy
- Research publicity and review opportunities for specific titles
- Prepare reports for presentation to University Press Committee
- Other duties as assigned
The desired qualifications include:
- Advanced graduate training, with familiarity in the disciplines central to the Press’s publishing program, including American studies, African American studies, Native American and Indigenous studies, gender, and sexuality studies, public history, cultural history, literature, and the history of journalism.
- Commitment to using an understanding of the diversity of human experiences in developing, recruiting, and marketing trade and scholarly books.
- An interest in exploring a career in academic publishing.
- Sustained personal experience with or engagement with communities and cultures under-represented in scholarly publishing and an interest in bringing those experiences and that learning into the daily work of academic publishing.
We are looking for a curious, conscientious, detail-oriented person who appreciates books—whether print or digital—and scholarship. The internship will require five hours of work per week for approximately one semester. The position does not qualify for tuition remission or health benefits but would provide some supplemental income for a TA or RA position. Additionally, the position provides the chance to explore the work world of publishing and to consider it as a potential career pathway as well as the experience often required to land entry level publishing jobs. The successful intern will participate in a team effort to publish specific titles. After an initial training period, some portion of the weekly hours may be conducted remotely, based upon the Press’s needs.
This program is co-sponsored by the UMass Press, Graduate School, College of Humanities and Fine Arts,
and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
How to Apply:
All application materials (cover letter, CV or resume) should be submitted through this form. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in publishing, any previous experience relevant to publishing, and how this experience will contribute to your professional goals. Additionally, please discuss your understanding of diversity and how you would like to bring that understanding to the work of academic publishing.
To maximize your chances of acceptance, you will be asked on the form to indicate ALL times (Fall semester 2024, Spring semester 2025, and/or Summer 2025) in which you would be eligible, per University workload policy, to accept a 5-hour assistantship.
Questions about this application may be sent to Matt Becker, Editor in Chief (mattb@umass.edu).
Graduate Internship-Graduate School Office of Professional Development
Fellowship Advisor Internship at the Graduate School Office of Professional Development
Type: Internship
Department: Graduate School Office of Professional Development
Hours per week: 5 hours
Hourly rate: GEO minimum
Office Location: Bartlett Hall, with some remote work possible
Appointment Dates: July 29-Nov. 1, 2024 (dates are firm)
Priority Deadline: April 30
Job Description:
The Graduate School Office of Professional Development invites applications from advanced graduate students with an interest in alt-ac careers to provide fellowship application support to students and learn more about fellowship advising and alt-ac careers more broadly. Many colleges and universities employ a fellowship advisor to support students applying for nationally-competitive grants and fellowships; over 85% of fellowship advisors have graduate degrees, and 50% hold a doctorate.
Based at the Graduate School Office of Professional Development, this internship will offer exposure to the workings of fellowship advising and provide advising experience to complement skills graduate students obtain through their degree program.
August-October is the busiest time in the fellowship cycle, as most deadlines fall during this period. The internship dates of July 29-Nov. 1 are firm.
The intern will carry out the following tasks under the supervision of OPD’s Associate Director for Grants & Fellowships:
- Participate in training to learn OPD’s fellowship advising system and workflows.
- Learn databases for graduate student grants and fellowships; provide assistance and instruction to students on effective use of these tools.
- Coordinate and deliver workshops.
- Coordinate and facilitate fellowship writing groups and drop-in office hours for applicants.
- Read drafts of fellowship applications using review rubric.
- Provide feedback to fellowship applicant via one-on-one consultation (in person or via zoom) or email.
- Record post-consultation notes.
- Create and/or update website content on graduate student fellowships.
- Promote fellowship opportunities via email, social media, web content, or other marketing tools.
- Prepare report on internship duties and participate in exit interview at the end of the internship.
- Feedback provided will be used to revise position description and duties as necessary for future hires.
- Other duties as assigned
The desired qualifications include:
- Advanced graduate training, with familiarity in one or more of the disciplines most commonly relevant to nationally-competitive fellowship opportunities, CNS, Engineering, SBS, HFA, and Education.
- Experience applying for grant(s) or fellowship(s).
- Professionalism and a commitment to respectful engagement with OPD team, collaborators, faculty, and student fellowship applicants.
- Commitment to using an understanding of the diversity of human experiences in working with students.
- Willingness to provide feedback to students in a constructive manner sensitive to various skill levels, experiences, and needs.
- An interest in exploring a career in higher education beyond a tenure-track faculty position.
We are looking for a curious, conscientious, detail-oriented person who wants to support student success and learn more about alt-ac careers in higher education. The internship will require five hours of work per week for 14 weeks. The position does not qualify for tuition remission or health benefits but would provide some supplemental income for a TA or RA position. Additionally, the position provides the chance to explore the work world of higher education outside teaching and research to consider it as a potential career pathway and provide practical experience. The successful intern will participate in a team effort to support student professional development.
How to Apply:
All application materials (cover letter and CV/resume) should be submitted through this form. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in alt-ac careers in higher education, any previous experience applying for grants or fellowships, and how this experience will contribute to your professional goals. Additionally, please discuss your understanding of diversity and how you would like to bring that understanding to the work of fellowship advising.
Applicants will be asked to confirm that they are able to work for the full 14-week internship period (July 29 - Nov. 1, 2024) and that they are eligible, per University policy, to accept this 5-hour assistantship.
Questions about this application may be sent to Heidi Bauer-Clapp, hbauerclapp@umass.edu.