Migration Policy Institute Internships

The MPI internship program lasts for four months and is divided into three cycles over the course of the year. There is some flexibility in internship start and end dates, but the Spring internship cycle generally runs from January through April, the Summer cycle from May through August, and the Fall semester from September through December.

General Internship Application Deadlines

• November 1 - for Spring Semester (generally January - April)
• March 1 - for Summer Semester (generally May - August)
• July 15 - for Fall Semester (generally September - December)

RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS

An independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank based in Washington, DC, MPI provides analysis, development, and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at local, national, and international levels. It aims to meet the demand for pragmatic and thoughtful responses to the challenges and opportunities that large-scale migration, whether voluntary or forced, presents to communities and institutions in an increasingly integrated world. MPI seeks current college seniors and advanced-degree students as well as college graduates for full- and part-time research internships. Interns provide support to MPI researchers in one or more of the following program areas:

• U.S. Immigration: Assessment of border enforcement efforts, current and proposed state and federal immigration legislation, effect of changes to immigration law and policy, and prospects for immigration reform.
• International Migration: Comparative analysis of immigration and integration policies, with a focus on Europe and North America, in the areas of social cohesion and civic participation, asylum and refugee resettlement, labor-market integration, immigrant selection policies, security and border management, development, and global governance and multilateral cooperation.
• U.S. Immigrant Integration: 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.
• U.S. Human Services Initiative: Issues concerning refugee resettlement; unaccompanied children; public charge and other issues affecting access to services and benefits; immigration issues in child welfare; and the impacts of immigration enforcement on human services programs and policies.

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

• Contribute to overall MPI research efforts, including through independent quantitative and/or qualitative research and policy analysis
• Write paper drafts and prepare literature summaries
• Update and create new online tools on the MPI Data Hub
• Provide administrative support to MPI on migration-related events
• Attend and summarize congressional hearings and other relevant public and private events for MPI staff
• Assist with partial coverage of the reception desk and other light administrative tasks.

Foreign language skills and proficiency in key Office and other software programs prove helpful for certain projects, as do strong quantitative skills. 

EDITORIAL/COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIPS

MPI seeks college seniors and advanced degree students as well as college 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 journal. As part of their general responsibilities, Editorial/Communications Interns may:

• Craft digital campaigns and graphics
• Track media mentions and identify news outlets for targeted outreach
• Assist in the dissemination of MPI publications, including by drafting press releases
• Edit multimedia audio and video
• Fact-check, copy edit, and possibly write articles
• Research potential authors and topics
• Carry out events-related activities
• Assist with partial coverage of the reception desk and other light administrative tasks.

Strong editorial, social media, and multimedia skills are required.