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About the Internship Program

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank dedicated to the study of migration worldwide. Based in Washington, DC, MPI works closely with practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to analyze, develop, and evaluate migration and refugee policies at the local, state, national, and international level. MPI offers both Research and Editorial/Communications Internships. Since MPI’s inception, the internship program has trained over 50 future global migration scholars. Publication opportunities are available to interns and over half of MPI’s interns are now published authors in the field of migration.

Research Internships

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) seeks undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates for full- and part-time Research Internships. Interns provide policy-driven, quantitative and/or qualitative support to MPI researchers in one or multiple program areas.

Our current program research needs are :

Labor Markets Initiative Analysis of the economics of immigration, including immigrants' economic performance and immigration's impact on the labor market in the US and in other Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries.

Migration and Development Analysis of migrant worker protections, remittance flows, and the role of remittances in development.

Mobility and Security. Analysis of security-related migration issues, including border management, visa policy, border and immigration exploitation by transnational criminal networks, counterterrorism, and related topics such as privacy.

Transatlantic Council on Migration Analysis of European immigration and integration policies in the areas of citizenship and civic participation, economic growth and competitiveness, religion and public life, mobility and security, and migration and development.

US Immigrant Integration Analysis of K-12 immigrant education, adult language and literacy, state and local immigration regulation, binational (US-Mexico) immigrant integration initiatives, and employment and workforce development.

US Immigration Analysis of current and proposed state and federal immigration legislation, effect of changes in immigration law and policy, and prospects for immigration reform.

The Migration Policy Institute is also heavily engaged in research relating to Mexico including analysis of the US-Mexico bilateral relationship, border systems and security, immigrant integration, social and education policy, labor market issues, and migration and development.

Research Interns may also:

Maintain or update existing MPI databases, including the Data Hub;

Write program summaries and prepare for MPI or migration-related events;

Assist in the production and dissemination of MPI publications.

Foreign language skills and computer proficiency prove helpful for certain projects, as do strong quantitative skills.

Editorial/Communications Internships

The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) seeks undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates for full and part-time editorial/communications internships. Interns work with both MPI’s Communications team and the Migration Information Source, MPI’s award-winning online resource and research tool. Monthly issues of the Source feature data and articles about the movement of people worldwide.

As part of their general responsibilities, Editorial/Communications Interns may:

Research potential authors and issues;

Fact-check, edit, and copy edit articles for publication;

Update articles’ database and monitor Web site traffic;

Assist the communications team in drafting and disseminating media advisories, press releases, and other external relations materials;

Maintain and research contact information on media outlets;

Track media coverage of MPI analysts and events;

Maintain or update existing MPI databases, including MPI’s contact database;

Write program summaries and prepare for MPI or migration-related events; and

Assist in the production and dissemination of MPI publications.

Application procedure for both the Research and Editorial/Communications Internship

Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and short writing sample to:

Human Resources
Migration Policy Institute
1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036

For additional information, you may contact hr@migrationpolicy.org. Please indicate the desired internship(s) and, if applicable, program area in the subject line. Due to the large number of applicants, only those being considered for the position will be contacted. No phone calls please.

Applications deadlines are:

November 15 - for Spring Semester

March 15 - for Summer Semester

July 15 - for Fall Semester  

Internships are unpaid, but stipends are available for full-time interns. Students also may arrange to obtain credit for their work. 

For all positions, applicants must be at least a Junior in college, possess excellent oral and written communication skills, and be able to work both independently and as part of a team.

You need not be a US citizen to apply; however, all applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Minority applicants and/or applicants from immigrant or refugee backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.