Internship Opportunities

Spring 2026 Internship Opportunities: Young Elected Leaders Project

Data Management Internship

The Center for Youth Political Participation’s Young Elected Leaders Project is recruiting a paid Data Management Intern to start in Spring 2026. The Young Elected Leaders Project maintains a comprehensive database of the ages of state and national elected officials. The primary work for this Research Assistant is to help support and curate this extensive database. This paid internship opportunity begins the week of January 20th, 2026, and runs until May 2026, with the possibility of renewal into the next semester.

Internship Responsibilities:

Cleaning databases to check for quality and accuracy in past election years
Creating new age data sheets for the following election years, first following the local elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and creating new data following the national 2026 midterm elections.
Cross-referencing age data for accuracy, and sourcing age estimates and findings
Creating and maintaining webpages overviewing insights within our database
Facilitating workshops and database events
Responding to data requests
Communicating with Eagleton staff members in meetings and collaborating across CYPP when appropriate

Required Qualifications:

Must be a current Rutgers University undergraduate
Experience with database management
Fluent in Excel, word processing, email, and BOX
Ability to attend weekly in-person check-in meetings at Rutgers–New Brunswick
Ability to work 5-8 hours per week in a hybrid arrangement
Strong oral and written communication skills, attention to detail, and understanding of branding guidelines
Ability to multitask and manage time effectively

Preferred Qualifications:

Fluency in advanced statistics programs, R/R Studio, Stata, or SPSS
Advanced quantitative skills for building reports and papers
Background in Data Visualization Creation
Experience with WordPress and Webpage generation

If you are interested in working with us please email us at yelp@eagleton.rutgers.edu with your resume and a personal statement, highlighting your goals and why you would be a great fit for this position. Please submit your application materials by December 12th. If you are selected for an interview, those will be scheduled during the week of December 15th – 19th. This internship has a tentative start date by the week of January 20th.

Digital Media Creator Internship

The Young Elected Leaders Project is recruiting a paid Digital Media Creator to start in Spring 2026. Digital media creators will support the Young Elected Leaders Project in creating eye-catching, viral-worthy content for our social media channels to promote youth voter turnout, political awareness, and specifically highlight young leaders across the country, utilizing our extensive database. This paid internship opportunity begins the week of January 20th, 2026, and runs until early May 2026, with the possibility of renewal into the next semester.

Internship Responsibilities:

Creating engaging, viral-worthy videos and posts for the Young Elected Leaders Project social media channels, including TikTok and Instagram
Designing visually engaging graphics and story content
Researching social media trends and news to pitch timely and creative ways to connect civic content with online trends
Collaborating with the YELP team to brainstorm content ideas and strategy
Serving as an ambassador of the initiative for on and off-campus events and meetings
Analyzing content analytics for broader engagement

Required Qualifications:

Must be a current Rutgers University undergraduate
Experience creating social media content, including video creation and editing
Experience with major social media platforms and basic content creation tools, including Canva and CapCut
Have some data management experience, familiarity with Excel
Ability to attend weekly in-person check-in meetings at Rutgers New Brunswick
Ability to work 3-5 hours per week in a hybrid arrangement
Strong oral and written communication skills, attention to detail, and understanding of branding guidelines
Ability to multitask and manage time effectively

Spring 2026 Internship: Digital Content Creator

The Center for Youth Political Participation, in collaboration with the Rutgers Democracy Lab, is recruiting a paid team of creative, motivated digital content creator interns for Spring 2026. Digital content creators will support CYPP and RDL staff in creating eye-catching, viral-worthy content for our social media channels to promote youth voter turnout, political awareness, and campus-based engagement at Rutgers.

This paid internship opportunity begins the week of January 12, 2026, and runs until early May 2026

Internship Responsibilities

Creating engaging, viral-worthy TikToks for the Rutgers Democracy Lab’s social media channels, including TikTok and Instagram
Filming man-on-the-street style interviews with current Rutgers students at various on- and off-campus events
Designing visually engaging graphics and story content
Researching social media trends and news to pitch timely and creative ways to connect civic content with online trends
Collaborating with the intern team to brainstorm content ideas and strategy
Serving as an ambassador of the initiative for on and off-campus events and meetings
Analyzing content analytics for broader engagement

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a current Rutgers University undergraduate or graduate student
Experience creating social media content, including video creation and editing
Experience with major social media platforms and basic content creation tools, including Canva and CapCut
Ability to attend weekly in-person check-in meetings at Rutgers New Brunswick
Ability to work 8-10 hours per week in a hybrid arrangement
Strong oral and written communication skills, attention to detail, and understanding of branding guidelines
Ability to multitask and manage time effectively

Applications for the Spring 2026 Digital Content Creator Internship are now closed.

Spring 2026 Internship Opportunity: RU Ready

The Center for Youth Political Participation is recruiting a team of interns to support the RU Ready program to support the implementation of RU Ready Civics Fairs and Young Leaders Conference for area high school and middle school students. RU Ready is a nonpartisan, civic education program in high schools and middle schools designed to provide students with the resources and skills to address public problems in their communities. Interns will support CYPP staff in designing and implementing Civics Fairs and Conferences in area public schools.

This paid internship position begins the week of January 5, 2026 until mid-May 2026.

Internship Responsibilities

Implement RU Ready Civics Fairs at area high schools and middle schools
Lead and facilitate two in-person RU Ready Young Leaders Conferences for high school students
Participate in weekly internship meeting with Center staff

Eligibility requirements:

Must be a current Rutgers University–New Brunswick sophomore or above
Must be available to attend weekly in-person events both on-campus and off-campus*Students will be reimbursed for travel costs*
In order to work with minors in a school setting, interns must be able to pass a background check, fingerprinting, and TB test
Interest in encouraging young adults in civic skill building
Ability to speak to large groups of students
Access to a car a plus, but not required
Ability to work 5-7 hours per week in an in-person arrangement; some work may take place at home

Applications for the 2026 RU Ready Internship have closed.

Fall 2025 Internship Opportunity: RU Voting

The Center for Youth Political Participation is recruiting a team of interns to support the RU Voting program during the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial elections. RU Voting is a nonpartisan effort to register, mobilize and engage Rutgers University students to participate in politics and vote in local, state, and national elections. Interns will support CYPP staff in developing and executing the goals of RU Voting on the Rutgers University–New Brunswick campus.

This paid internship position begins August 2025 until mid-November 2025.