Internships
Summer Internships
MSF students have obtained valuable internships through application and networking. Most of these students are or were part of the Combined Degree program, they took advantage of graduate coursework while they were undergraduate students at UF.
SEO Internships
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) conducts the nation's premiere summer internship program for talented undergraduate students of color. The three MSF students who received SEO internships in the past secured wonderful NY job offers from their SEO internships. "SEO seems to be one of the most straightforward ways to get onto Wall Street from UF." Kyle Morabito, MSF 2008, SEO summer 2007 intern for Merrill Lynch. Read more in this summer internship flyer.
2008 MSF Summer SEO Interns
Phillippe Kriz, MSF '09
Phillippe Kriz was placed by SEO with Lehman Brothers in New York city this summer in Money Markets. "Lehman Brothers looked at my resume and since I'm doing the MSF program they decided to place me on the Senior Analyst internship program. I got a new offer, and if I do get a job offer for next year it would be for a senior analyst position."
UFICO Internships
Students accepted to the MSF Program before March are automatically considered for paid internships at the University of Florida Investments Company (UFICO). UFICO manages the investments of the University of Florida Endowment. UFICO was created in 2004 to manage the investments of the University of Florida Endowment ($959 million as of June 30, 2006). UFICO employs a professional staff led by Chief Investment Officer Michael Smith. Up to three interns will be hired each year. Each intern will work in one of three areas: (1) traditional assets, (2) hedge funds, and (3) private investments (private equity and real estate). Intern responsibilities will include portfolio analytics, manager evaluation, preparation of Board of Director reports and other periodic reports. The position may require some travel.
One-and two-year internships may be available. Students in the two year internship program would extend the MSF Program over two years. Compensation will range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year largely depending on whether the student does a two-year or one-year internship. Two year interns will be expected to work more hours per week and will be paid a higher annual rate. Additional funding to cover tuition in the MSF Program will be awarded to outstanding candidates. The internships coupled with the academic experience in the program represent an outstanding opportunity for prospective students interested in careers in investments.
Students that wish to apply for an internship should submit a cover letter and supporting materials to Kelly Herring by mail or email. This will be included with the application materials you submit.
Peter Weidner (MSF 2005), the first student to serve as an intern with the University of Florida Investments Company (UFICO), accepted a position with London based hedge fund, Auriel Capital.
Lucas Posson and John DeStefano have accepted offers from the University of Florida Investments Corporation to serve as interns for the 2008-2009 academic year beginning summer 2008.
2010-2011 Interns
Brenden Vickers
Mr. Vickers joined UFICO as an intern in December 2009. Mr. Vickers is studying towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science degree in Finance. Mr. Vickers' prior experience includes an internship with Siemens AG, working in their corporate finance department during the summer of 2009 in Atlanta, GA. During the summer of 2010, Mr. Vickers will be a financial valuation intern with WTAS, LLC. in West Palm Beach, FL . Mr. Vickers is expected to graduate from the combined-degree MSF program in May of 2011.
Dmitry Almanza
Mr. Almanza joined UFICO as an intern in spring 2010. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Finance combined degree and expecting to graduate in May of 2012. He previously interned with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management team in Gainesville, FL. Mr. Almanza is an analyst in the Gator Student Investment Fund, and is expected to graduate in May of 2012.
2009-2010 Interns
Damon Polistina
Mr. Polistina joined UFICO as an intern in September 2009. Mr. Polistina is studying towards a Masters of Science degree in Finance, having already graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics in May 2008. Mr. Polistina's prior experience includes an internship with Banyan Mezzanine Fund during the summer of 2009.
Steven Seifert
Mr. Seifert is an MSF combined degree student and is expecting to graduate with his Master of Science in Finance in May of 2010. He is also studying mathematics and statistics to go along with his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Finance. He will be interning in the Sales and Trading division of Banc of America Securities in New York City in the summer of 2009. Steven is also an executive officer of the Student Investment Club.
Kenneth Ying
Mr. Ying joined UFICO as an intern in May 2008. Mr. Ying is studying towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics along with a Master of Science degree in Finance. Mr. Ying's prior experience includes an internship with Citigoup's Sales and Trading division during the summer of 2009 in New York City, where he specialized in index equity derivatives, treasuries, and interest rate swaps. He is also an executive board member of the Student Investment Club and is expected to graduate in May of 2010.
2008-2009 Interns
John DeStefano
Mr. DeStefano is a MSF Combined Degree student. He is expected to receive his Bachelor of Science in Finance in December 2008, followed by his Master of Science in Finance in Spring 2009. His previous internship experience was with Merrill Lynch Global Markets and Investment Banking Services in Jacksonville in 2007. John is a CFA Level 1 candidate for the June 2008 exam.
Lucas Posson
Mr. Posson graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in spring 2008. Posson served six years in the United States Navy. He is Bloomberg product certified in Equities and Fixed Income and is a CFA Level 1 candidate for the June 2008 exam. He is expected to receive his Master of Science Finance degree spring 2009.
Kenneth Ying
Mr. Ying joined UFICO as an Intern in May 2008. Mr. Ying is studying towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics as well as a Master of Science degree in Finance. Mr. Ying is an executive officer, and the managing director for the student managed fund, for the Student Investment Club. He is expected to graduate in May 2010.
2007-2008 Interns
Jason Lazarus
Mr. Lazarus graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering the spring of 2005. He has two years experience as a Nuclear Energy Field Engineer for General Electric Company. He is expected to receive his Master of Science Finance degree spring 2008.
Collin Mings
Mr. Mings joined UFICO in February 2007 as an Intern focusing on Public Securities. Previously, he worked as an Assistant Store Manager for Sears Holdings Corporation overseeing 25 sales associates. Mr. Mings is scheduled to graduate with a M.S. in Finance from the University of Florida in the May of 2008.
2006-2007 Interns
Jose Fornell
Jose Fornell has earned, from the University of Florida, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, and a Master of Arts with a major in International Business. He received his Master of Science - Finance degree in spring of 2007 and has two summa cum laudes. He has internship experience from Ford Motor Company in Orlando, Florida and Terra-sol Corporation in Ecuador. José Fornell has accepted a full time position as a Restructuring Associate with Alvarez and Marsal.
Jason Klauk
Jason Klauk completed his Bachelors in Finance in fall of 2006 and his Master of Science - Finance in spring of 2007 as a Combined Degree student. He has internship experience from Friedman Billings Ramsey in Washington D.C. and Merrill Lynch in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Starting in June 2007, Jason will join Friedman Billings Ramsey in Washington, D.C. as an Investment Analyst in their Financial Institutions Group.
Ang Li
Ang Li completed his Bachelor of Science degrees in both Mathematics and Finance in 2006 as well as his Master of Science - Finance in spring of 2007 as a Combined Degree student. He has internship experience from Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong. He is the former president of the University of Florida Student Investment Club. Ang Li has entered the Analyst Training Program at Morgan Stanley's Fixed Income Division in Hong Kong.
Abraham Ouano
Abraham Ouano graduated from the University of Florida with a 4.0 grade point average in spring of 2006, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Finance. He received a Master of Science - Finance in spring 2007. He has internship experience with General Electric Asset Management and a variety of entrepreneurship experience in finance. He has accepted a full-time offer from GE Asset Management in the Financial Management Program (FMP) at Stamford, CT.
2005-2006 Intern
William Brian Dana
William Brian Dana has accepted an offer by the University of Florida Investments Corporation to serve as an intern for the 2005 - 2006 academic year. He has a BS in Business Administration and Economics from Drury University. His previous work experiences have been with Citigroup and Smith Barney. In September of 2006, Mr. Dana began working for Meketa Investment Group in an analyst role.
