Fall 2026 - Research Intern, Vera Louisiana

About the role#

Vera Louisiana is seeking a part-time Research Intern for the Fall 2026 term to support ongoing projects focused on jail population reduction, community investment, and addressing carceral impact across Louisiana. This role provides experience in applied social justice research and the use of data to advance public policy advocacy. The intern will report to the Senior Research Associate and contribute to projects involving New Orleans and other parts of the state.

What you'll do#

• Support ongoing mixed methods research projects, including the review and analysis of datasets.
• Attend and take notes at coalition and partner organization meetings.
• Prepare data to inform public policy advocacy efforts.
• Assist with scheduling meetings with internal and external partners.
• Provide support for planned events and other administrative responsibilities as needed.
• Observe and document interviews and focus groups.

What you'll need#

• Current enrollment in a graduate school program in public health, sociology, political science, or a related social science field.
• Demonstrated interest in applied social justice research and policy reform.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Familiarity with analyzing quantitative datasets to produce descriptive statistics.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Familiarity with qualitative data collection and theme identification.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Familiarity with quantitative (e.g., SQL, SPSS, SAS, Stata) or qualitative (e.g., NVIVO, Atlas.ti, Dedoose) analysis software is helpful.

Location & details#

• Location: New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Modality: Hybrid, with an expected in-office presence of approximately 10 days per month.
• Term: Fall 2026.
• Commitment: Part-time, 10-20 hours per week.
• Compensation: This is an unpaid internship designed for academic credit; the organization will assist in coordinating requirements with your academic institution.