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The practical component of the sports science curriculum is a valuable one year supervised practice experience with a designated sports team or organization. The practicum offers students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of sports science, performance, and testing/monitoring in an athletic setting. This involves planned learning experiences with an athletic team at various stages of the training program and season. Students will have the opportunity to observe and then model the functions of a performance specialist. Through the combination of planned learning activities and professional interaction, the students will gain an increasing level of proficiency in providing and evaluating comprehensive training to athletes and teams within the athletic setting.

Internship opportunities available for applicants include:

Pitt Sports Nutrition (1-2 interns)

The University of Pittsburgh is seeking applicants for a Sports Nutrition Fellow that would oversee the nutrition needs for track & field, while working toward a master’s degree in Sports Science and assisting the Assistant Athletic Director for Performance Nutrition in a variety of tasks to continue enhancing the nutrition program.

Appointment will begin mid/end-Aug 2023. This is a 12-month position in conjunction with Pitt’s Sports Science Master’s Program. Screening of applications will be open until position is filled. Appointment is contingent on acceptance into the Sports Science Master’s Program. Please send resume, cover letter, and three references to Auburn Weisensale, Assistant Athletic Director for Performance Nutrition at aweisensale@athletics.pitt.edu and Katelyn Allison, Associate Professor and Interim Director of MS Program in Sports Science at katelyn.allison@pitt.edu  

Compensation: 12 Month Registered Dietitian Fellowship with part-time hourly wage of $12.50/hour, sponsored by Moocho Inc.  

Duties Include:

  • Oversee nutrition needs for men’s and women’s track and field teams  
    • Nutrition education and counseling, body composition assessment and interpretation, hydration testing, travel nutrition, pre-/post practice and meet nutrition, some fueling station operations, cooking demos, grocery store tours, etc.
  • Assist with the implementation of sports science initiatives and technology for the track and field team
  • Assist with management of fueling stations, including assisting with training undergraduate and graduate volunteers.
  • Assist in development and continuous improvement of nutrition education materials and resources, such as the Moocho app for Pitt student-athletes
  • Perform various administrative duties
  • Perform additional tasks as assigned by the sports nutrition staff.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition or related field
  • Registered Dietitian or RD eligible
  • Ability to work non-standard work hours or work week, including early morning, nights or holidays
  • Ability to lift a minimum of 40 pounds

Preferred Requirements:

  • Pursuing Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) Credential and career in sports nutrition preferred
  • ServSafe Certified
  • At least six months of experience in sports nutrition at the collegiate or professional level
  • Previous experience in sports science and/or strength and conditioning
  • Experience with data analysis, visualization, and reporting
  • CPR/AED Certified 

Skills Required:

  • Ability to be flexible and adjust to schedule changes
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively with all members of the Performance Staff and other athletic department personnel
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality
  • Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Canva to assist in creation of education materials
  • Knowledge and understanding of NCAA and ACC bylaws

Benefits Include:

  • Eligibility to sit for the Certified Performance and Sports Scientist (CPSS) credentialing exam through the NSCA.
  • Exposure to working with dietitians, sports scientists, strength coaches, athletic trainers, mental health professional and team physician
  • Hands-on experience in a Division I Athletics program working with a wide variety of high level sports programs
  • Mentorship and references from experienced collegiate sports dietitian, professional sports dietitian, and sports scientists

Pitt Men's Basketball (1 intern)

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of strength & conditioning and/or sports science. Volunteers will gain valuable strength & conditioning experience at a Division I program, chance to earn hours beyond program's requirements and have the opportunity to earn recommendations for future career opportunities. 

Responsibilities:  

  • Assisting with the implementation of strength & conditioning programs for Men's Basketball
  • Weight room/equipment maintenance and set up 
  • Daily operation of team's Catapult technology and sports science equipment
  • Other duties as assigned 

Required:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Science MS Program
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided)

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous experience in collegiate athletics
  • Currently hold industry certification, preferably CSCCa – SCCC or NSCA – CSCS
  • Experience with or basic knowledge of the following programs: Catapult, Polar, Force Plates, Velocity-based training tools (GymAware), Data collection in Excel
  • Experience with or a desire to learn R and Tableau for data visualization and reporting
  • Flexible schedule preferred (i.e. occasional evenings and weekends)

 

Pitt Women's Basketball (1 intern)

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of strength & conditioning and/or sports science. Volunteers will gain valuable strength & conditioning experience at a Division I program, chance to earn hours beyond program's requirements and have the opportunity to earn recommendations for future career opportunities. 

Responsibilities:  

  • Assisting with the implementation of strength & conditioning programs for Women's Basketball
  • Weight room/equipment maintenance and set up
  • Daily operation of team's Catapult technology and sports science equipment
  • Other duties as assigned 

Required:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Science MS Program
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided)

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous experience in collegiate athletics
  • Currently hold industry certification, preferably CSCCa – SCCC or NSCA – CSCS
  • Experience with or basic knowledge of the following programs: Catapult, Polar, Force Plates, Velocity-based training tools (GymAware), Data collection in Excel
  • Experience with or a desire to learn R and Tableau for data visualization and reporting
  • Flexible schedule preferred (i.e. occasional evenings and weekends)

 

Pitt Women's Soccer (1 intern)

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of strength & conditioning and/or sports science. Volunteers will gain valuable strength & conditioning experience at a Division I program, chance to earn hours beyond program's requirements and have the opportunity to earn recommendations for future career opportunities. 

Responsibilities:  

  • Assisting with the implementation of strength & conditioning programs for Women's Soccer
  • Daily operation of team's Catapult and sports science equipment
  • Other duties as assigned 

Required:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Science MS Program
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided)

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous experience in collegiate athletics
  • Currently hold industry certification, preferably CSCCa – SCCC or NSCA – CSCS
  • Experience with or basic knowledge of the following programs: Catapult, Polar, Hawkin Dynamics, Velocity-based training tools (GymAware), Data collection in Excel
  • Experience with or a desire to learn R and Tableau for data visualization and reporting
  • Flexible schedule preferred (i.e. occasional evenings and weekends)

 

Pitt Women's Lacrosse (1 intern)

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of strength & conditioning and/or sports science. Volunteers will gain valuable strength & conditioning experience at a Division I program, chance to earn hours beyond program's requirements and have the opportunity to earn recommendations for future career opportunities. 

Responsibilities:  

  • Assisting with the implementation of strength & conditioning programs for Women's Lacrosse
  • Daily operation of team's Catapult and sports science equipment
  • Other duties as assigned 

Required:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Science MS Program
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided)

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous experience in collegiate athletics
  • Currently hold industry certification, preferably CSCCa – SCCC or NSCA – CSCS
  • Experience with or basic knowledge of the following programs: Catapult, Polar, Hawkin Dynamics, Velocity-based training tools (GymAware), Data collection in Excel
  • Experience with or a desire to learn R and Tableau for data visualization and reporting
  • Flexible schedule preferred (i.e. occasional evenings and weekends)

 

Pitt Women's Volleyball (1 intern)

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of strength & conditioning and/or sports science. Volunteers will gain valuable strength & conditioning experience at a Division I program, chance to earn hours beyond program requirements and have the opportunity to earn recommendations for future career opportunities. 

Responsibilities:

  • Assisting with the implementation of strength & conditioning programs for Volleyball 
  • Weight room/equipment maintenance and set up
  • Daily operations of team's VERT technology and sports science equipment
  • Other duties as assigned 

Required:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Science MS Program
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided)

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous experience in collegiate athletics
  • Currently hold industry certification, preferably CSCCa – SCCC or NSCA – CSCS
  • Experience with or basic knowledge of the following programs: VERT, Hawkin Dynamics, Velocity-based training tools (GymAware), Data collection in Excel
  • Experience with or a desire to learn R and Tableau for data visualization and reporting
  • Flexible schedule preferred (i.e. occasional evenings and weekends)

 

Pitt Men's and Women's Swimming (1 intern)

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of swimming and/or sports science. Volunteers will gain valuable experience at a Division I Swimming & Diving program, chance to earn hours beyond program's requirements and have the opportunity to earn recommendations for future career opportunities. 

Responsibilities:  

  • Assisting with the implementation of dryland programs for Swimming & Diving
  • Tracking volumes, times and intensities of daily training
  • Daily set up of video cameras for athlete feedback
  • Providing health, sports performance and nutrition information for athletes through weekly lectures and conversations with athletes 
  • Providing physiological and periodization feedback to coaching staff to help improve implementation of training
  • Other duties as assigned 

Required:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Science MS Program
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided)

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous experience in collegiate athletics
  • Currently hold industry certification, preferably CSCCa – SCCC or NSCA – CSCS
  • Experience with or basic knowledge of the following: Data collection in Excel, Prior swimming experience
  • Experience with or a desire to learn R and Tableau for data visualization and reporting
  • Flexible schedule preferred (i.e. occasional evenings and weekends)

 

Carnegie Mellon University Athletics (1-2 interns)

Carnegie Mellon University Athletics Department is seeking an experienced graduate student for an internship role under the supervision of the head strength and conditioning coach.

The position is modeled after a strength and conditioning graduate apprenticeship where the applicant will have the opportunity to assist in the following areas:

  • Leading multiple modalities of training ranging from short, weight-room-based routines to long, speed preparation sessions
  • Instructing sections of the workout including plyometrics, Olympic lifting, mobility, barbell, dumbbell, and bodyweight exercises
  • Leading groups through an entire workout from warm-up to the end of running or lifting  

The goal of the apprenticeship is to prepare the applicant to assume programming and coaching responsibilities for one or more teams as they are ready.

In addition to coaching experience, this position offers exposure to educational resources including:

  • A comprehensive 1000+ exercise video library
  • Programming and training organization principles taken from a variety of disciplines including track and field, gymnastics, weightlifting, bodybuilding, and martial arts
  • An injury prevention framework that blends the art of rehabilitation with practical considerations

Preferably, the applicant will have coaching experience in a collegiate weight room and be certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, but these are not requirements.

As required by the Sports Science program, the internship requires 10-15 hours per week beginning in the middle of August and ending May 31st.

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter addressed to Alan DeGennaro at adegenna@andrew.cmu.edu

 

Pitt Neuromuscular Research Lab (NMRL) - human performance testing and research (3+ interns)

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in human performance research. Volunteers will gain valuable hands-on research experience across a number of studies, a chance to earn hours beyond program's requirements and have the opportunity to earn recommendations for future career opportunities. The NMRL is staffed by multidisciplinary research faculty and graduate students including athletic trainers, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, bioengineers, biomechanists, registered dietitians, medical doctors and epidemiologists. The successful applicant will be given the opportunity to aid projects funded by the Department of Defense centered around performance optimization and injury prevention in both tactical and athletic populations.

Responsibilities:  

  • Data processing and management
  • Database entry of laboratory
  • Database management
  • Collection of biological samples (muscle and blood)
  • Body composition and bone density scans
  • Biomechanical performance assessments
  • Other duties as assigned 

Required:

  • Ability to work flexible hours (i.e. early mornings and weekends)
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office products

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous human subjects research experience 
  • Undergraduate degree in exercise physiology, kinesiology, nutrition or a related field
  • Experience with or a desire to learn data analysis and statistical methods
  • CPR/AED certification 

Internship availability may vary by year.