2023-72: 2024 Paid Undergrad Internship

Description
Are you a rising undergraduate senior with a strong interest in learning about social or education programs, policies, and research? Are you curious how program evaluations can inform public policy? Are you considering graduate education or a career in public policy or education policy?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be an ideal candidate for a paidsummer internship at MDRC, one of the nation's premier social and education policy research firms.
In summer 2024, MDRC will be offering up to four rising seniors a paid eight-week internship. Selected summer interns will be exposed to multidisciplinary teams that develop and evaluate programs focused on current social and education policy issues. Based on the area of interest, selected interns will have the opportunity to engage in assigned hands-on tasks (described in more detail below) to support projects within one of MDRC's five policy areas, two centers, or a research policy support unit:

• Family Well-Being and Children's Development Policy Area
• K-12 Education Policy Area
• Postsecondary Education Policy Area
• Economic Mobility, Housing, and Communities Policy Area
• Youth Development, Criminal Justice, and Employment Policy Area
• Center for Applied Behavioral Science
• Center for Data Insights
• Data Collection Unit

As part of the onboarding experience, interns will be assigned to one of the project's near-peer team members, who will be available to answer project inquires and serve as the project's primary point of contact.
Responsibilities
In general, the paid internship provides the opportunity to work with MDRC teams on a range of activities, including:

• Participating in seminars to learn about MDRC's education and social policy research.
• Engaging with real-life MDRC projects to learn about the day-to-day aspects of social and education policy projects, as well as their research and policy contexts.
• Networking within the MDRC community to learn more about topic areas of interest to understand the context of MDRC's research and policy work.
• Participating in other professional development activities, such as delivering a presentation on their internship experience and receiving resume coaching.

I, the internship may include the following organizational, administrative, and analytical opportunities to support intern's skill development:

• Opportunity to learn about contemporary social and educational programs, policies, and research practices in the social and educational policy field.

• Exposure to project management by developing materials, such as agendas and meeting notes.
• Develop professional relationships with staff to support ongoing career development.
• Develop communication skills through written and oral presentations based on their assigned MDRC project work.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate student who will be a college senior in the Fall of 2024 or Spring of 2025 academic year.
• Demonstrated interest in social and education policy issues.
• Basic understanding of research methods.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Comfort working in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment.
• Comfort with and interest in learning to use new software and technology and the ability to collaborate in a virtual environment.
• Strong writing and communication skills.

Deadline
Applications should be submitted by Monday, January 15, 2024. All applications and supporting materials will be reviewed after the application deadline.
How to Apply
Instructions: When submitting your application, please include the following:

• A résumé.
• A personal statement (up to two single-spaced pages) that discusses (1) your interest in public policy issues and research, (2) your immediate career interests and goals after graduating from college, (3) how this internship, coupled with your academic pursuits and/or prior experiences, will contribute to your professional growth, and (4) how your background and life experience will bring greater diversity to the field.
• A copy of your unofficial graduate school transcript(s), which must document your status as a registered student.

Please note: Applications that do not have the requested materials will be deemed incomplete and removed from consideration.
Important Things to Know

• Interns will be expected to begin their internship in June of 2024.
• Interns are paid $18.00 per hour.
• Interns are expected to work 35 hours per week.
• We have a strong preference for interns to work from MDRC's NY office. The position will be hybrid, working from the NY office a day or two a week and remotely on other days.
• MDRC is to provide housing for selected interns. Applicants invited to interview virtually will receive more information about this opportunity.
• To learn more about the internship experience at MDRC, watch the video "Meet David Alvarracin, 2023 Gueron Undergraduate Intern | MDRC"

Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Please note interviews (when scheduled) will be conducted via video conferencing.
MDRC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. No qualified applicant, employee, intern, volunteer, or apprenticeship trainee will be discriminated against on the basis of his, her, or their race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin (including physical, cultural or linguistic characteristics), marriage to or association with persons of a national origin group, tribal affiliation, membership in or association with an organization identified with or seeking to promote the interests of a national origin group, name that is associated with a national origin group, accent, language use, immigration status, citizenship, possession of a driver's license issued to persons unable to prove their lawful presence in the United States, and other definitions under California or other states' laws, ancestry, creed, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), age, citizenship, veteran and/or military status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, gender transitioning or perceived gender transitioning, marital status or civil partnership/union status, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, protected medical leaves (requesting or being approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act) or similar state family medical leave laws, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. Legal work authorization is required. To request a reasonable accommodation during any stage of MDRC's employment process due to a disability, please contact HRQuestions@mdrc.org.
MDRC's dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion exceed compliance requirements. We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and engaged in their work.