Research and Communications Internships - Spring 2027 (Papademetriou Young Scholars Program)

The Demetrios G. Papademetriou Young Scholars Program

The Demetrios G. Papademetriou Young Scholars Program, named in honor of MPI’s founding president, has two goals: harnessing the valuable contributions of interns for MPI's work and training the next generation of migration and communications leaders. Internships are available both in person and remotely, as well as to those residing outside the United States.

MPI is committed to recruiting and supporting interns who reflect the breadth of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives in the countries where it works.

Application Deadline

October 15, 2026 for the Spring 2027 semester (January - April 2027).

Research Internships

Research Interns work within one of the following program areas:

• U.S. Immigration: Tracking and analysis of policies relating to asylum and refugee pathways, border management, immigration enforcement, legal immigration (temporary and permanent), unauthorized immigration, and employment outcomes of highly educated immigrants; analysis of immigration, demographic, and economic trends; development of proposals for policy reform.
• International Migration: Comparative analysis of immigration and integration policies in the areas of refugee resettlement and asylum, immigrant integration (including labor market integration and social cohesion), labor migration, borders and mobility, migration and development, and returns and reintegration.
• U.S. Immigrant Integration: Issues related to early childhood education and care; Dual Language Learners and English Learners; K-12 immigrant education; adult education, training, and workforce development; state and local immigration/integration policy and services; and language access policy.
• Latin America and Caribbean Initiative: Assessing policy responses to mixed migration flows, with a focus on northern Central America and Venezuela; evaluating migration management systems in key host countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia; tracking regional and international development policies; and identifying integration challenges and opportunities. Written proficiency and oral fluency in Spanish are required.
• Refugee and Forced Displacement Initiative: Research and analysis of policy and programmatic approaches that privilege refugee agency, lived experience, refugee livelihoods and self-reliance, host-country integration, and the role of faith in global responses.

Within each of these substantive areas, research intern duties include:

• Contributing to overall MPI research efforts, including through independent quantitative and/or qualitative research and policy analysis
• Writing paper drafts and preparing literature summaries
• Providing events support
• Summarizing hearings and other relevant public and private events
• Light administrative tasks.

Communications Internships

MPI offers a communications internship, providing essential dissemination and other support across the Institute and with the ability to experience the breadth of its work across research areas. Communications intern duties include:

• Media tracking
• Development of social media campaigns and visual assets
• Assisting with events organization and execution
• Assisting with promotion of the Migration Information Source magazine
• Short-form writing and possible multimedia editing.

Program Details

The internship program lasts for four months. There is some flexibility in internship start and end dates, but the Spring internship cycle generally runs from January through April. Internships are available on both a full- and part-time basis (with full-time sought for U.S. Immigrant Integration and Communications). A $1,472 biweekly stipend is offered to full-time interns and a prorated stipend to part-time interns. Students also may arrange to obtain credit for their work. MPI does not cover relocation expenses. Internships can be remote or in person.

Applicants do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply; however, if applicants reside and work in the United States, they must be U.S. work authorized before the internship begins. MPI is not in position to provide the supporting documents for an applicant to apply for a visa.

For all positions, applicants must be at least a junior in college and possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Current students, college graduates, graduate students, and early-career professionals are welcome to apply. Foreign language skills and proficiency in key Office and other software programs are helpful, as are strong quantitative skills. Minority applicants and/or applicants from immigrant or refugee backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Fill out MPI's online application form. Separately, send the following materials by October 15, 2026, to InternshipApplications@migrationpolicy.org, including in the subject line "First Name Last Name_Spring 2027":

• CV/Resume
• Cover letter (maximum 2 single-spaced pages) describing your personal or professional interest in migration and/or another public policy issue; specify which MPI program area(s) you wish to be considered for and describe relevant research, academic, and/or professional experiences.
• Writing sample (maximum 5 single-spaced pages in English) demonstrating your ability to write clearly and analytically about migration, integration, refugee issues, or other public policy topics.
• Transcript (official or unofficial) from all colleges/universities attended, showing courses and grades.

No AI policy: Using AI tools to write or substantially revise your application will result in disqualification.