Internship with the International Trade Administration's Office of Standards and Intellectual Property
Internship Position – Spring 2022 – Federal Government
U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Standards and Intellectual Property
Overview:
The Office of Standards and Intellectual Property (OSIP) within the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) seeks highly motivated and organized applicants with an interest in international trade policy and intellectual property (IP) rights. The internship will provide broad practical exposure to intellectual property policymaking, including as presented in the annual Special 301 report. Interns are expected to work 10-15 hours per week, remotely. The internship is unpaid, but class credit may be obtainable upon request.
Responsibilities:
This position is located in the Office of Standards & Intellectual Property (OSIP), within the Industry and Analysis (I&A) unit of ITA. Interns will:
- Assist with OSIP coordination on the Annual Special 301 Report;
- Assist with OSIP with the STOPfakes program, including:
o Outreach to U.S. companies and small and medium exporters;
o Drafting tweets for @STOPfakesGov;
o Creating new toolkits and brochures on IP for STOPfakes.gov
o Helping refresh the STOPfakes.gov website;
- Assist with analytical work addressing critical trade issues related to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights:
o Monitor the efforts of foreign governments to comply with treaty obligations to provide adequate protection to intellectual property rights;
- Work closely with the IP intra- and interagency colleagues in the U.S. Government, including the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), Department of State, Office of the United States Trade Representative, etc.
Qualifications:
Competitive applicants will have familiarity and experience in the following areas:
- Knowledge of trade issues related to the protection of intellectual property rights, including but not limited to the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), and treaties administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);
- Interest in bilateral and multilateral trade issues relating to intellectual property rights;
- Interest in evaluating the efforts of foreign governments to comply with trade obligations to provide adequate protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights of U.S. exporters;
- Be detail-oriented and able to manage long term projects effectively;
- Be willing to learn (or already have a background in) Salesforce and SharePoint;
- Have proven ability to work in both a team environment and independently;
- U.S. citizenship and passing a background check are required.
How to Apply:
1) Submit your resume, a cover letter, and a writing sample (no more than 6 pages; samples over 6 pages will not be considered, and your application package will be considered incomplete) directly via Handshake. In your cover letter, please explain your interest in the position and the days and hours you are available to work remotely.
2) The internship position will be the length of your Spring semester, from mid-January through May. The exact dates are negotiable. Our office also offers the possibility of continuing the internship through the summer.
3) Deadline to apply is November 12, 2021 at 5 PM EST. Note: We will review applicants for the position on a rolling basis. Please submit your resume & writing sample as quickly as possible to receive rapid consideration.