Dark Lab 🧪

Internship Program

Dark Laboratory creates programming and initiatives that ask us to dream of the world we want to inhabit, one in which climate and racial justice are intertwined in everyday life. We have an emphasis on methods of speculative design, storytelling, writing, and creative technology and coding.

The Dark Laboratory internship program seeks college sophomores, juniors and seniors interrogating similar historical, sociocultural and climate questions. Previous interns have worked to film drone footage, help with poster design, event logistics, and social media. We are looking for interns with experience in the following areas who would like to develop their research skills: 

  • academic research and written reports

  • journalistic writing (as part of our art writing initiative, Digital Junkanoo)

  • archival research and oral history creation 

  • music composition and production

  • social media management 

  • photo and video editing 

  • graphic design

  • programming and 3-D architectural modeling

  • video game design

Requirements

The ideal intern would be self-starting and proficient in research, writing and speculative design, and available to work at least 30 hours a week during the summer in-person, and at least 15 hours a week during fall and spring semesters. Must be eligible for course credit or collaboration with the student’s home institution.

We are currently accepting applications for the summer 2024 term until March 15. Send an email with a resume (1pg) and cover letter (2pgs) to our lab manager, Tatyana Tandanpolie, who can also answer any additional questions, at darklaboratory2020@gmail.com. The cover letter should be addressed to the lab director Dr. Tao Leigh Goffe. Writers should also include 1-2 links to writing samples (or attach PDFs).

Sucessful applicants will be asked to provide the names and contact info of 2 references.

Potential interns with professional experience in writing and computer science will receive special consideration.

Location

Internships are in-person. All in-person work will be conducted at the New Museum art and technology incubator NEW INC, located at 250 Hudson St. New York, NY and Dark Lab headquarters at 695 Park Ave.

 

Summer 2023 interns

Summer 2023 interns

The cohort of summer 2023 interns for Afro-Asia Group and Dark Laboratory initiatives, including Kitchen Marronage and Digital Junkanoo.

  • Maria Aguirre

    INTERN

    Princeton University, Rising Junior, Sociology, Minor: Computer Science and Portuguese

    Maria is an intern for the Dark Laboratory. She is passionate about understanding structures and how they affect people. Growing up in the vibrant and diverse community of Southeast San Diego (Kumeyaay Territory), she witnessed firsthand challenges faced by marginalized communities. She has a keen interest in computing and learning new languages in relation to colonial encounter. Her passion has been ignited as well by studying abroad in Portugal and Cape Verde. Maria is interested in multimodal creative technologies. With a vision and mission for social justice, she is excited to work beyond academic or professional pursuits, on personal geographies and weaving stories.

    People Centered / Impactful/ Message / Intentional / Community

  • Kendall Greene

    INTERN , ARTIST

    Amherst College, Rising Senior, Practice of Art

    Kendall is the summer intern for Afro-Asia Group and will assist with the activities of Kitchen Marronage. They are an artist born and based in Atlanta, Georgia (unceded territories of Muscogee and Cherokee peoples) interested in rooting people back to themselves and their ecosystems. The values that inform their practice are inspired by a Black feminist love ethic and honor the cyclical nature of our bodies. Their art serves as a reminder that we are not separate from nature, but active participants in the rhythm of life. They experiment mainly with film photography because the practice allows them to explore the boundaries of time.  In addition to being an artist, they are a convener, having hosted many jam sessions and potlucks. Their work confronts themes of climate catastrophe and salvation.

    Eco-feminism, Black liberation, Food sovereignty, community resilience, care ethics

  • Ariana white

    INTERN, SINGER

    Fordham University, Rising Sophomore, Natural Sciences with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology & Disability Studies Minor (Intended)

    Ariana is an intern for the Dark Laboratory. Based in Lenapehoking, she has completed independent research in both environmental biology and Afro-Caribbean cultural history, and strives to tackle intersectional systemic issues through research and storytelling. Her passion for ecology has been sparked by learning with communities about agriculture in the Catskills and in Ecuador. Ariana is interested in Black diaspora masquerade traditions and will be assisting with activities in Dark Lab’s design and curatorial studio Digital Junkanoo. She was formerly an editor of a satire journal.

    Ecology | Independent Research |Systemic Justice | Intersectional | Equity

The Dark Laboratory is thankful to the co-sponsorship and partnership with Princeton University, Amherst College, Fordham University. We are also grateful to generous sponsors including the New York Society Library for their support of the summer internship program.