The annual Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) e-internship program is open for applications! Apply by July 31. The Bureau for Resilience and Food Security has 8 projects available this year - please see them listed below. The VSFS is an excellent way for undergraduate and graduate students to obtain experience with the federal government, build networking and mentoring relationships, and add a concrete project to their resumes.

What is VSFS?

The Virtual Student Federal Service program is an eight-month remote internship for U.S. citizen students, college-level and above, who would like to make a real difference in the work of the U.S. government. Since 2009, thousands of eInterns have expanded the efforts of the U.S. government, working remotely from their school, dorm room, apartment, local library or coffee shop – wherever they happen to be! Virtual interns work only on unclassified projects. They report to their mentors at the Department of State and other federal government agencies in the U.S. and around the world by email, phone, or video chat.

Please view the FAQs for additional information about eligibility, process, etc.

How it works

Each year, federal employees submit project requests between May 1 and June 10. U.S. students apply to their top three VSFS projects from July 1-31 on USAJOBS.gov. VSFS supervisors review applications between August 1-31 and may contact VSFS candidates for a virtual interview. As part of the interview, candidates may be asked to show examples of their expertise and work. All candidates will hear by early September if they have been offered a position.

Selected eInterns work on their projects for approximately ten hours a week from September through May. Some eInterns work their academic institutions to receive course credit for their VSFS participation. Please note that these internships are UNPAID.

Positions with the USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security

• Youth and Food Security, Nutrition, Resilience and Water Security, Sanitation and Hygiene (USAID-USA-25): Help strengthen youth contributions to resilient food systems! You will work closely with the USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security Senior Youth Advisor to analyze and report trends and knowledge about youth and food security, resilience, nutrition and water security, sanitation and hygiene.
• Topics in Global Food Animal Systems: Antimicrobial Resistance (USAID-USA-35): Support the Food Animal Systems Team in the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) at USAID by performing a literature review and landscape analysis on the linkages between food animal production systems and antimicrobial resistance using a One Health approach.
• Topics in Global Food Animal Systems: Livestock Ownership and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (USAID-USA-58): Support the Food Animal Systems Team in the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security at USAID by performing a literature review and landscape analysis on the linkages between food animal ownership, hygiene practices, and environmental enteric dysfunction using a One Health approach.
• Research and Analysis to Inform USAID Priorities on Social Protection (USAID-USA-2): Conduct a review of scientific literature on social protection, as well as a program inventory to identify critical gaps and opportunities in helping governments scale social protection programs, as well as inform how USAID can engage in this space.
• Climate Change Adaptation and Mainstreaming--Research and Analysis to Inform USAID Priorities (USAID-USA-34): Conduct research and analysis of development projects and the scientific literature to inform USAID climate change adaptation and mainstreaming priorities. The intern may also prepare for and participate in interviews with partner organizations to help identify priorities, opportunities and gaps.
• Communications and Outreach Intern, USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (USAID-USA-13): Assist in the planning and development of digital media and outreach content and talking points to effectively communicate the impact of Feed the Future, Water for the World Act and U.S. Government’s food security and resilience effort, applying both graphic design and creative writing skills.
• Assistant to the Diversity Council for the Bureau of Resilience and Food Security (USAID-USA-29): Work with the Diversity Council in USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security to support the creation of a diverse, inclusive workforce to meet the objectives of the Feed the Future Program.
• Help increase data utilization through the office of country support (USAID-USA-60): Seeking graduate students to assist the office of country support in analyzing and visualizing existing data.