Join Us

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The Immigration Lab conducts research on all things migration including: immigration (settling in), emigration (leaving), transnationalism, integration, inequality, health disparities, demographics, social mobility, racism and exclusion, refugees and asylum seekers, social movements and contentious politics, the impact of immigration policies, and climate migration.

With students, faculty, and fellows, we facilitate interview projects, support student research, and publish our findings.  We are currently accepting volunteers and unpaid interns to support our work for the Summer (May 26th - July 31st) and Fall 2026 (August 31st - December 4th) terms. 

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We are currently seeking:

• Volunteers – Support the lab through transcription, translation, event assistance, and general research tasks while gaining exposure to migration research.
• Research Interns – Work closely with qualitative and quantitative data, transcribing, translating, analyzing interviews, and contributing to blog posts, reports, and working papers. Ideal for students interested in research, writing, and data analysis.
• Digital Communications & Marketing Interns – Manage social media, create promotional content, and assist with outreach efforts to expand the lab’s visibility and engagement.
• Audio/Video Production Intern – Edit audio and video footage into polished content,  operate recording equipment (cameras, microphones),  and format content for platforms like social media, websites, or presentations.
• Event Coordination Interns – Plan and execute events such as panels, workshops, and talks, including logistics, coordination, and day-of support.
• Fundraising Interns – Assist in planning and executing fundraising initiatives, events, and campaigns, and research potential donors, sponsors, and funding opportunities.
• Front Desk Receptionist – Provide administrative and organizational support, assist with communications, and help ensure the day-to-day operations of the lab run smoothly. This is a hybrid positon.

Volunteers: required to work 5-10 hrs/week and will receive training to conduct specific tasks such as translating/transcribing, event planning, etc.

Interns: required to work 10-20 hrs/week to receive proper training, develop research and data analysis skills, and effectively represent the lab in professional settings.

Interns and volunteers have the option to work in a remote or hybrid format.

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Common Questions:

Do I need to be an American University (AU) student? No. The Immigration Lab team is composed of students, graduates, and academics from American University and different universities across the world.

Do I need to speak Spanish or another language? No. It is preferred, but not required.

Is this a paid position? No, but we encourage students to apply to federal work study or scholarships.

Citi Certificate. Do I need one to apply? What if have I already completed for a previous course or position?  You do not need to have the Citi Certificate completed to apply. If you already have a Citi Certificate, email it to the Lab Coordinator (Kat Olmos ko7206a@american.edu) to ensure it is the correct one.

When will I hear back after applying?  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You will hear back any day between the priority application deadline and the beginning of the internship/volunteer term. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Can I use this internship to complete credits for school (i.e. independent study, internship course, translation course, volunteer credit, etc.)?  Yes, please let the Lab Coordinator know before semester as we have limited spots open for each term.

Can I do my capstone as part of the Immigration Lab?  Yes, it is encouraged!

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Current Research Project

The lab’s primary project is Immigration to the DMV and NYC, which looks at the experiences of migrants coming to the DMV and NYC region from various countries in Latin America, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Russia, and more. We have collected almost 500 interviews since Fall 2022. Currently, members are focusing on transcribing, translating, and analyzing the anonymized interviews according to their research interests. We also have sub-interview projects focusing on specific countries/themes set up by existing members.

Most interviews are done in English, Spanish, French, and Wolof. The lab needs help transcribing interviews and extracting interesting information from the data to turn into blog posts, articles, working papers, etc. Folks are encouraged to analyze interviews based on their research interests or to point out surprising information found in the data. We will provide the training to do so, and thus you will gain hands-on experience on the social science research process around immigration patterns and immigration policy analysis in the U.S. and beyond.

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Application URL: https://forms.gle/yqLqd6LgdqyuMW9o6

Priority Application Deadlines:

• Summer 2026: May 1st
• Fall 2026: July 31st

Questions? Please email the Lab Coordinator, Katheryn Olmos (ko7206a@american.edu)