The Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Undergraduate Summer Internship provides an opportunity for three undergraduates to conduct research, explore career possibilities in archives and special collections, and learn about advanced training in Native American and Indigenous Studies and related fields. This eight-week paid internship program at the American Philosophical Society’s Library & Museum in Philadelphia will offer hands-on research experience and will include mentorship and networking opportunities. 

The APS’s Library & Museum has rich and varied collections related to over 650 different Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas. Working with mentors, interns will develop their own archives-based projects or pursue research projects identified by the Indigenous communities with which the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) interacts and collaborates.

The 2026 NASI Summer Internship will take place from June 15 to August 7, 2026, with a break for the week of July 4th. During this time students will work Monday-Friday at the APS’s Library & Museum and will have the opportunity to share their work with a variety of audiences. NASI Summer Interns will join a vibrant intellectual community at the APS that includes other scholars working with Native American and Indigenous materials as well as undergraduate summer interns and library fellows from different scholarly fields. NASI Summer Interns represent diverse backgrounds and identities, and will have the opportunity to learn from each other, and develop and practice important skills in peer support, collaboration, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.

Interns will receive a stipend of $3,000, as well as travel support to and from Philadelphia at the beginning and end of the internship and, if desired, to return home during the July 4th holiday break. The APS will secure and cover the costs of shared housing in Philadelphia. 

The Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) is funded by a grant from The Mellon Foundation. NASI supports research in the field of Native American and Indigenous Studies and related fields by undergraduates, Native American scholars, Tribal College faculty members, and researchers who work closely with archives and Native communities

The Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at the American Philosophical Society Library & Museum focuses on helping Indigenous communities and scholars to discover and utilize the APS collections in innovative ways. For more information, please visit https://www.amphilsoc.org/library/CNAIR 

Eligibility

• This internship is open to applicants from anywhere in the world, including those who are not US citizens or residents, but it does not provide visa sponsorship
• Preference will be given to applicants who have sustained personal engagement or lived experience within Indigenous communities
• Applicants must be 18 years of age and have completed one year of an undergraduate college degree program by the Internship start date. Applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree prior to December 2025 are not eligible.

Terms

• 8-week residential internship
• $3,000 stipend
• Travel and accommodations covered

Application Instructions

All application materials will be submitted online via Interfolio

Applicants will submit:

• A resume or curriculum vitae
• The names and contact information for two people who will provide letters of reference
• A single document containing four short essays addressing each of the following topics (250 words each):

1. A summary of academic background;
2. A statement of interest in the internship;
3. A statement of your approach to and past experiences working, studying, or living with people from backgrounds different from your own.
4. A statement describing your membership in or engagement with an Indigenous community or communities

Deadline: March 2, 2026

If you have questions about this fellowship, please contact Ruth Rouvier at [email protected]  

If you encounter difficulties with the application form, please contact Interfolio Help at [email protected] or (877) 997-8807.