The Department of French and Italian is committed to making world language more accessible to all Ohio State students. Part of that initiative includes creating and facilitating new professional, internship, and study abroad programs. Two such programs, co-hosted with Professor Patrice Hamel in the Department of Molecular Genetics, will give Ohio State students the edge they need to enter the workforce.
Experiential Learning in Sustainability: an International Perspective (ELSIP): Under the guidance of France-based and US-based experts in sustainability and circular economy, students will be trained to lead interactive sustainability workshops developed by 2tonnes, a pioneering French organization promoting ecological transition and collective climate action.
Participants will gain hands-on experience in sustainability education, workshop facilitation, and public engagement while exploring the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Program Highlights:
- Interactive online training with 2tonnes experts
- Facilitate 4 workshops for U.S. audiences
- Biweekly meetings with sustainability professionals
- Final presentation and reflection
- Small financial contribution upon successful completion of the program.
Eligibility:
Open to undergraduate and master students (current or recently graduated) from all majors with a sincere interest in sustainability. Participants must reside in or near Columbus, Ohio.
Credits: 2
STILSA (Students in Life Sciences Abroad): An international education program based in the department of Molecular Genetics in partnership with ASC career success offers paid career building and credit-earning experiential learning opportunities to Ohio State degree-seeking or graduated undergraduate/master students in biology-based subdisciplines or areas.
INTERNSHIPS AT FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS: Several in-lab or in-field research-focused opportunities in the field of systems biology, neuroscience, marine biology, plant biology, RNA biology, terrestrial ecology, biomaterial science and animal ecophysiology are available as full-time independent and individual experiences and will take place at NTNU (Norwegian University of Science, Technology) in Norway, Sorbonne Université, Paris-Saclay Université, University of Toulouse in France and University of Sao Paolo in Brazil.
INTERNSHIPS AT FOREIGN COMPANIES: The program also offers internships abroad in non-academic setting in Norway and Brazil.
All internships are paid and credit-earning experiences which last for 90 days (3 months) maximum and can start as early as May 2026 and as late as October 2026. Students must enroll at OSU during the time of their internship abroad to earn credit for the STEM experience abroad and have to register their travel in the OIA travel registry and purchase mandatory insurance coverage. The dates of the internship will be finalized in consultation with the host laboratory. To apply for the opportunity, students should visit the STILSAwebsite and look for the updated calls for applications.
STILSA students accepted into internships in French-speaking countries and interested in earning credit in French (FRESCA: FREnch and SCience Abroad) may enroll for 1-4 credits of French 4690. This is in addition to the credit for the STEM experience. The number of credits will depend on the amount of French they plan to use during the experience. Assignments will include regular journaling in French about the experience, contact with an advisor, and a final video presentation in French on the research conducted. These assignments will be accessed through Carmen.
Funding: Degree-seeking students accepted in the STILSA program may apply for FRIT Department awards, which will include Borgo Award(s) of $5000 for French, French & Francophone Studies, and Romance Studies majors. Graduated students are not eligible for the FRIT department awards.
Students can contact Dr. P. Hamel (hamel.16@osu.edu) and J. Brihm-Spann (brihm-spann.1@osu.edu) for further enquiry about STILSA. Students interested in the STILSA program can also send an email to STILSA-TRONDBUSSalumni@osu.edu if they’d like to hear directly from past STILSA participants about their experiences abroad.