ORGANIZATION
The mission of the University's Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) is to advance the study and application of human flourishing at all levels of education—K-12, undergraduate, graduate, professional, and lifelong. In particular they are focused on how educational institutions can better understand and facilitate the types of knowledge, mindsets, and practices that promote flourishing.
SPONSOR
David Germano, Executive Director
PURPOSE
CSC is launching a new app for student flourishing grounded in research literature upon wellbeing, healthy habit formation, and contemplative practices for use in student life as well as curricular content. The app is already leased and modified, and we are now focused on building content for it adapted to UVA undergraduate and graduate students. This involves partnership with many units at UVA focused on student support, as well as with student groups.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The internship opportunity would:
- Contribute to directly creating content that concerns daily habits of flourishing, including but in no way limited to contemplative practices, both as actual practices and scientific background on their efficacy and relationship to flourishing.
- Work with various units at UVA concerned with student support to interview specialists and do research with their guidance towards creating such content.
- Work with specific programs or courses to develop targeted content for integration into their activities.
- Work with student groups to support student-generated content.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Through this experience, the intern would learn how to develop innovative curricular content in modular forms that prioritize student engagement and wellbeing, as well as a deep understanding of models of flourishing, scientific research behind learning, flourishing, and habit formation. The intern would also develop skills in developing content for apps, bridging student affairs and curricular content in university settings, and justifying learning decisions based upon scientific research.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
This internship will prepare ABDs in future faculty career, particularly by aiding in future teaching activity, as well as developing curriculum, as well as prepare them for possible pursuit of academic administration careers in student affairs or teaching support centers.
MENTORING
The intern will receive mentoring from Lyndsay Alexander and David Germano.
DURATION AND EFFORT
The internship will commence in fall of 2022 and continue through Spring of 2023. Typical effort involved is 10 hours per week.
FUNDING
The intern will be funded up to $5000 per semester, in wage replacement or augmenting other fellowship support.