Graduate Student Summer Research Internship Program

As part of the internship, students will:

Gain research experience working on projects with U-M faculty at the forefront of the field of global health equity. Under faculty mentorship, students will be exposed to a variety of activities that have them working across disciplines.

Benefits to Students

• Have a paid opportunity to gain practical experience in research design and methodology for global health equity.
• Learn about the center's principles and approach to global health equity work, including building equitable global partnerships, co-designing solutions for complex global health challenges, and creating impact that improves people’s lives in low-resource settings.
• Expand their professional network and be exposed to possible career pathways in global health equity.

Through this program, interns will:

• Explore current topics in global health equity.
• Learn about the center's principles and approach to global health equity work, including building equitable global partnerships, co-designing solutions for complex global health challenges, and creating impact that improves people’s lives in low-resource settings.
• Develop skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving, preparing students to pursue future passions and projects without being restricted to the standards of one particular discipline.
• Gain practical experience in research design and methodology for global health equity
• Expand their professional network and be exposed to possible career pathways in global health equity.

Eligibility

This program is open to U-M graduate students enrolled in any discipline, including Master’s, Doctoral, and other professional degree programs. This program is based at the U-M Ann Arbor campus, and some projects may require travel outside of the country. Virtual or hybrid work arrangements may be possible, depending upon the needs of the project and faculty mentor. Students will need to be available in person in early May in Ann Arbor for a one-day orientation (date TBD). They will then need to be available at least 20 hours per week for 10 weeks throughout the summer to support the research project. Students must be currently enrolled at the University of Michigan and must be enrolled for Fall 2026 (students with May and August 2026 graduation dates do not qualify).

Application

Students review the list of available research internship projects for Summer 2026 and then complete the Google Form application for the project that they are interested in. If students are interested in multiple projects, they must submit a separate application for each project. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis in March, and faculty mentors will conduct a short interview with top candidates, with decisions being made by early April.

View Projects

Time Commitment

Students accepted to the center's internship program provide support to a U-M faculty member or faculty team working on a research project with a global health equity focus. Each of the projects is led by the center’s faculty members, who are leading interdisciplinary research projects in collaboration with a global partner. Through an application process, selected students will be placed on research teams according to the needs and interests of all parties. Projects take place over ten weeks in spring/summer 2026. The nature of the activities will depend on the needs of the particular faculty members and research projects. Students may be exposed to a number of research activities, such as proposal development, data analysis, project coordination, or literature searches, that have them working across disciplines. After the internship is complete, students will create a research poster to present and share their work at the center’s Community Gathering in October.

Timeline

An in-person orientation will be held in early May in Ann Arbor (date TBD). Internships take place throughout the summer (specific dates/times and in-person, remote, or hybrid set-up will be coordinated with the faculty mentor), with a wrap-up and reflection session with the center in August.

Stipend

The center compensates interns with a stipend of $5,000, paid out in two installments of $2,500 (after five weeks and ten weeks in the program). To receive this stipend, students are expected to satisfactorily complete all activities assigned by faculty mentors and produce deliverables in a timely manner. Students are also expected to create and present a research poster during the center’s fall Community Gathering on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Deliverables

Student interns will produce at least one deliverable mutually agreed upon by the student-faculty team. Students will participate in a post-internship reflection that ties their experience to future professional and academic goals and to the center's ultimate goal—people living longer and healthier lives in low- and middle-income contexts.

Questions?

Contact us:
[email protected]