Lehigh is a proud recipient of NSF funding for GRANTED: Pathways for Graduate Students into the Research Enterprise, a paid graduate assistantship and internship program for senior doctoral students that provides experience and insight into research-oriented non-academic careers.
About the Research Enterprise
Research staff are vital to producing and conducting ethical, compliant, and impactful research within an institution. Staff in the research enterprise are trained in managing complex compliance regulations, improving grant-seeking among researchers, and assisting with award management–all of which support the reputation and financial growth of an institution.
As universities continue to prioritize research growth and as calls for research proposals become increasingly complex, there is a rapidly growing national need for professionals trained in administrative research roles to support grant-seeking and award management. Workforce development in this area is increasingly recognized as a priority by funding agencies and universities.
GRANTED: Pathways for Graduate Students into the Research Enterprise is a 1-2 year internship that provides graduate students with training and development to prepare them for careers in research administration, research development, research integrity, and technology transfer. Individuals with training in these areas are widely sought after by research institutions, government labs, hospitals, colleges, and universities.
Program Overview
Graduate assistants accepted into this internship will spend the first phase of the program (at least two semesters) at Lehigh University in the offices that support research. Early on, all students will receive an overview of and exposure to all aspects of the research enterprise, including research development, research administration, research integrity and compliance, and technology transfer. They will then select one or two work areas to specialize in and complete an in-depth placement.
During the second phase of the program, students will complete an internship at an external research institution in the Lehigh Valley region. Depending on students’ and internship sites’ needs and timelines, the length of these phases will vary. Specifically, students will join one of two tracks:
- One Year Track: In the one year track, students will complete two semesters as graduate assistants in research offices at Lehigh University, followed by a 4-month summer internship (at approximately 35 hours a week) at an external site.
- Two Year Track: In the two year track, students will complete a full academic year as graduate assistants in research offices at Lehigh, followed by a second full year (at approximately 50% time during the semester and 35 hours a week during the summer) as interns at an external site.
This is a paid internship with tuition remission.
Eligibility
This internship is open across colleges to senior doctoral students (PhD or EdD, having completed their coursework) in good standing. This opportunity is not currently open to Masters level students.
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, January 21st - Informational session - Tuesday at 10:00 graduate student breakfast
- Wednesday, January 29th - Information session - Graduate Student Senate meeting
- Thursday, February 6th - Information luncheon - co-hosted with the Center for Career and Professional Development (Catered lunch provided! Pre-registration required! Registration link coming soon!)
- Friday, February 7th - Virtual information session - co-hosted with the Center for Career and Professional Development (Pre-registration required! Registration link coming soon!)
Apply Now
Now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 session. To apply, send a resume/cv and letter of interest to Melissa Fowler at mlf324@lehigh.edu.
Application deadline: March 1st, 2025.
For questions or further information about this program, contact Melissa Fowler at mlf324@lehigh.edu.
About Lehigh University’s Research Enterprise Team
Lehigh University’s research enterprise team possesses significant and complex expertise, and includes the following teams:
The Research Development team supports researchers with a wide variety of activities, including grant seeking, proposal development, and internal seed funding opportunities.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs handles approximately 550 proposals per year to federal agencies, the State of Pennsylvania and non-federal entities. The office, which supports approximately 675 active sponsored awards annually, is structured to support faculty in their proposal submissions, as well as compliance and financial requirements after a grant has been awarded.
The Office of Research Integrity supports the Lehigh University community in the ethical and compliant conduct of research in accordance with federal, state, and sponsor law, regulations, policy, and best practices. The Office of Research Integrity also provides infrastructure for developing, drafting, and implementing research administration policies and procedures. The office also administers the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Conflict of Interest in Research Committee (CIRC).
The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) manages intellectual property created at Lehigh from research. Lehigh’s OTT also supports the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for sponsored research projects with industry partners, negotiates technology development projects, and supports new venture creation for Lehigh inventions.