Research / The Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy

Research Internships at the Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy (RISEP) are designed for the student to gain practical field research experience on applied social science projects dealing with issues such as: economic opportunity, immigrant, minority and women worker issues, , and equitable urban development. During the semester long internship students will contribute to one of RISEP’s current projects under supervision and guidance from a RISEP research associate. Students will have the opportunity to develop and practice research skills such as primary data gathering through surveys, interviews and focus groups, real data processing, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and writing and presenting research findings.

The fundamental objectives of the research internship for the student are to:

Gain actual practical data collection experience. Gain real data processing experience. Contribute to reports and other publications. Learn to be part of a coordinated, team-oriented research project. RISEP expects interns to be full participants in projects, to take direction and supervision from our experienced field research associates, and to make meaningful contributions to our agenda of applied research and our mission to serve the interests of Florida’s working men and women, their families and communities.

Visit RISEP’s website at: www.risep.fiu.edu

“While interning at RISEP, I was able to develop research and writing skills that help me with many aspects of my life today. I was surrounded by a great team and it was always clear to me that our work had the potential to make a positive impact on people, particularly on low-income communities in Florida. I am currently employed with Florida New Majority, a leading grassroots social welfare organization based in Miami. My primary responsibilities are research and grant writing. The skills, and more importantly, the social justice principles I learned at RISEP have proved invaluable in my new career.”—Carlos interned at RISEP, 2010-2011