Calling All Changemakers: Summer 2025 Internship Opportunity with the Public Policy Lab
DR. RABIU RABIU 
Are you a graduate student eager to create meaningful change? Do you want to gain hands-on experience in public service design while collaborating with government agencies and communities in New York City? The Public Policy Lab (PPL) invites you to apply for its Summer 2025 Graduate Internship Program—a unique opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives through design, research, and innovation.
Applications are open until 5:00 p.m. on May 1, 2025 (EST).
About the Public Policy Lab
The Public Policy Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income and vulnerable Americans. Through a human-centered design approach, PPL works within public systems—not outside them—to help redesign services and policies in collaboration with government partners. PPL is not an advocacy group but a force for practical, systemic change. With deep expertise in design, social science, and technology, the team delivers innovative, empathetic solutions to complex societal challenges.
Internship Overview
This paid internship runs from early June to mid-August 2025, with interns expected to work up to 32 hours per week, primarily Monday through Thursday, at PPL’s vibrant DUMBO office in New York City. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are in-person workdays for the full NYC team, fostering lively collaboration and team bonding.
Graduate interns are current or recent students who are passionate about using their skills to improve public services. They contribute across the organization, engaging in everything from project development to ethnographic research and co-designing prototypes. Interns are embedded in real-world public-sector work—directly collaborating with government agencies and communities to create solutions that are both strategic and empathetic.
What You’ll Do
Interns at PPL are never on the sidelines. You’ll gain hands-on experience by:
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Conducting ethnographic research and interviews
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Co-designing and testing prototypes with community stakeholders
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Mapping systems and creating visual storytelling tools
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Supporting the implementation of new services and tools
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Participating in internal communications, events, and project documentation
Past interns have contributed to impactful projects such as:
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Streamlining the housing application process for unhoused New Yorkers
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Enhancing mental health service referrals for families
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Expanding healthcare access for communities affected by the digital divide
What PPL Is Looking For
PPL seeks diverse, driven individuals with experience or interest in human-centered design, research, communications, visual design, or public strategy. Ideal candidates will demonstrate:
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Strong written and verbal communication skills
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Critical thinking and pattern recognition
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An ability to work both independently and collaboratively
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Curiosity about how public services can be better designed—with and for people
Experience with public sector work, professional services, or community engagement is a plus. PPL also highly values applicants who reflect the diverse communities of New York City. Candidates with fluency in a major non-English NYC language (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, or ASL), as well as those from LGBTQIA, immigrant, low-income, justice-system-involved, or housing-insecure backgrounds, are especially encouraged to apply.
What You’ll Gain
The PPL internship offers more than just résumé-building experience:
Social Impact
You’ll be working on projects that affect millions of Americans, ensuring your time spent has purpose and reach.
Skills Development
Grow your capabilities in design research, qualitative methods, storytelling, team collaboration, and facilitation. Learn how to apply academic knowledge to real-world policymaking.
Mentorship
Collaborate with experienced professionals and receive guidance from PPL staff. You’ll gain access to proven methodologies for designing and implementing public service improvements.
Professional Network
Join a vibrant, international network of PPL fellows—professionals working across research, design, government, and policy sectors.
Compensation
This is a paid internship at a competitive rate of $31/hour. In some cases, the engagement may extend beyond the summer based on project needs and performance.
Requirements & Application Details
Interns must be present in New York City. Summer interns are expected to work in our DUMBO office for up to 32 hours per week, primarily from Monday through Thursday. All of our New York City staff come to our DUMBO office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Interns must be able to travel, and driving skills are a plus!
Required Qualifications
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Critical thinking and pattern recognition skills
- Experience in research, business management/strategy, visual design, and/or communications
- Experience or interest in human-centered design methods
Additional Hiring Priorities
PPL believes that our work—and all policymaking—will be most effective when we reflect the communities that we serve. With this in mind, we encourage participants to apply who:
- have fluency in a major, non-English New York City language (such as Spanish, Mandarin, or ASL),
- come from lower-income, LGBTQIA, immigrant, temporarily-housed, or justice-system-involved backgrounds, and/or
- have a US driver’s license.
Deadline to Apply:
May 1, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. EST
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a brief Zoom interview. No phone calls, please.
What else should you know?
Work/life balance is important to us. We close our office for several weeks each year and generally restrict work communications to weekday business hours.
We believe that good design starts at home: PPL can only generate meaningful policy and service designs if our team finds meaning and satisfaction and growth in our work. We regularly discuss our values, and we explore ways to be better for each other and in the world.
We are learning to make our hiring practices more inclusive and accessible to those coming from various professional or personal backgrounds. If you need further support or have feedback on ways to make this application easier to navigate, please send an email at info@publicpolicylab.org.
Employment Policies
The Public Policy Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
We can only consider candidates already authorized to work in the United States. We do not provide relocation expenses. Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment.
Ready to Apply?
To learn more, please visit Public Policy Lab or email info@publicpolicylab.org with any accessibility questions or feedback about the application process.
Make your summer matter. Join the Public Policy Lab and help design a better future for all.
For more opportunities, please visit our website Opportunities For Youth.
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