Internships, Assistantships, and Student Employment

The Zimmerli Art Museum offers internships for academic credit to Rutgers undergraduate students. Under the supervision of museum staff, interns engage in experiential learning to acquire hands-on, practical experience by assisting with day-to-day departmental activities, research-based assignments, and other special projects that support the operations of the museum. Academic-year internships are typically 8 to 10 hours per week and are structured to bestow a deeper understanding of the university art museum as a crucial hub for interdisciplinary research, collection management, learning, and community engagement.  

Interns will also have opportunities to build community with their cohort and museum professionals at the Zimmerli through brown-bag talks, designed for professional development. 

Interns are selected based on their academic training, experience, and interests, as well as departmental availability. Interns may apply to work in the following departments: curatorial, registration, education, development, marketing and communications, and the business office.

Current opportunities are listed through the link below for the Fall 2024 semester (or Summer 2024, when indicated) for enrolled Rutgers students pursuing any course of study. 

Learn more about internships

Each year the Zimmerli supports five graduate students with a stipend, health insurance, and tuition remission. This program includes: Dodge Assistantships for the study of Soviet nonconformist art; the Dodge-Lawrence Fellows for general assistance with the Soviet Nonconformist art and Eurasian art collections; and a museum graduate assistant or Museum Fellow, who works under the leadership of the Mellon Director for Academic Programs. These awards are made by the Department of Art History at Rutgers in tandem with the Zimmerli.

Learn more about graduate assistantships

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The PNC Graduate Fellow in Museum Education is a part-time position and an essential member of the Education Department at the Zimmerli. The PNC Graduate Fellow will be responsible for creating and facilitating impactful, interactive experiences for K-12 audiences, with a focus on early childhood education. In addition to participating in a range of educational activities at the museum, the PNC Graduate Fellow will foremost support the activation of an initiative called Zimmerli Mobile that serves to deepen the museum’s community engagement through off-site artmaking programs at early childhood schools and community centers in New Brunswick and nearby cities. The PNC Graduate Fellow will work collaboratively with members of the Education Department to create pedagogical content and implement learning strategies that execute the museum’s mission. This is a temporary, grant-funded position that will work an average of 10-15 hours per week until June 2025. The position will be paid at the rate of $20 per hour.

A successful candidate will have:

• Current enrollment in a graduate program (MA, MAT, MFA or PhD) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick
• Previous experience working with K-12 audiences (focused on early childhood)
• Knowledge of the Spanish language
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI)
• Passion for social-justice oriented arts education
• Enthusiastic interest in acquiring professional experience for a potential career in the arts or nonprofit organizations
• The desire to work in a collaborative environment
• Flexibility to work some nights and weekends
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Availability to participate in biweekly trainings at 9am on select Wednesdays

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for two professional references (all combined in one document) to Brandon Truett, Head of Learning and Community Engagement, at btruett@zimmerli.rutgers.edu.

Please include Application for PNC Graduate Fellow in the subject line of your email.

Applications are currently closed for this position, please reach out to Brandon Truett with any inquiries or questions.

Each year, the Zimmerli selects a new group of Rutgers students to facilitate gallery tours for museum visitors of all ages, from preschool students to senior citizens. Student educators learn about the museum’s collections while building skills in holding meaningful, engaging conversations anchored by a work of art.

Program open to current students with at least three full semesters on campus remaining. No previous art or museum experience required – just an enthusiasm for building connections between art and people. Bi/multi-lingual candidates are especially welcome. This is a paid opportunity. 

Applications are open for the 2024-2025 Academic Year! To apply, visit: https://go.rutgers.edu/ZAMstudenteducator

Please contact education@zimmerli.rutgers.edu for more information. 

^{The Student Educator Program is supported by Michael McCulley.}

The Zimmerli employees students in several departments through the Federal Work-Study Program, a financial aid program that places eligible students in part-time employment, allowing them to earn funds while attending college. For details, visit the university website.

Other opportunities, such as gallery attendants and education assistants, are available on a limited basis. Contact education@zimmerli.rutgers.edu for more information.