Careers
Our growing team is composed of professionals passionate about making government work for all of us, regardless of zip code. We’re dedicated to supporting current and future leaders with research, technical assistance, education, and training in order to reach their good-governance goals.
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are actively working toward our goal of recruiting and retaining staff and board members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance and the Research Foundation of the City University of New York are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act/Protected Veterans Status/E-Verify Employer.
For more information about our open positions, email info@islg.cuny.edu.
Current Job Openings:
Civic Engagement Fellow
About the Civic Engagement Fellowship
The Campaign Finance Board (CFB) is a nonpartisan, independent city agency that empowers New Yorkers to make a greater impact on their elections. CFB’s mission is to make New York City’s democracy more open, transparent, and equitable by eliminating barriers to participation. Through voter engagement and the matching funds program, the CFB provides access to the information and resources New Yorkers need to vote or run for office and reduces the corrupting influence of money in politics by enhancing the impact of New Yorkers’ small-dollar contributions.
To amplify its work, CFB wishes to identify, engage, and empower the next generation of civic engagement leaders and build the capacity of CBOs to inform, educate and empower voters in their communities. For this Initiative, CBOs will be based or working in Bronx Community Districts 1 through 7. CFB wishes for these leaders and CBOs to specifically build expertise around voter engagement and education. CFB’s matching fund program is specifically designed to support greater voter engagement at all points in the election cycle and empowering the next generation of civic leaders can help build that goal. To achieve this goal, CFB is partnering with CUNY ISLG on this Initiative.
The Civic Engagement Fellowship program, which began in August 2025, is designed to offer Fellows the opportunity to participate in a yearlong professional development Fellowship offered by CFB and CUNY ISLG and be placed at a host CBO for a 1-year work experience. where they do a variety of work supporting voter and community engagement.
This opportunity is seeking a CUNY senior who will be graduating in Spring 2026 to participate in a 1-year Civic Engagement Fellowship and work placement opportunity. Specifically,it presents the opportunity to participate in Year 2 of a two-year Fellowship, and join a cohort of existing Fellows who began this Fellowship in August 2025. If circumstances allow, there may be an opportunity for the new Fellow to join the program before June part-time, but this is not guaranteed—we hope to have the new Fellow join the program in a full-time placement at their host sites beginning in June or July 2026. Additionally, please note that at present, CUNY ISLG is seeking to fill one vacancy in the program; however, strong candidates not selected for this vacancy may be added to a wait list and may be considered for future Fellowship opportunities in the program should additional vacancies open.
Fellows are Research Foundation of CUNY (RFCUNY) employees and will be eligible for RFCUNY benefits. Details regarding those benefits will be explained to candidates during the interview process as they differ depending on part time/full time schedules, All employees, regardless of placement, will receive ongoing support from CUNY ISLG staff for the duration of their Fellowship. Compensation (salary, benefits, etc.) will be set by CUNY ISLG and is reflected in the salary information listed at the start of this document.
Who we are looking for
CUNY ISLG is recruiting an additional Fellow to join the inaugural Civic Engagement Fellows. This Fellow’s term would start in June 2026 and go until June 2027. You must be able to commit to the full 1-year Initiative to be considered.
The Fellowship will include the following components:
Bi-monthly Fellowship Sessions – CUNY ISLG will host two-hour Fellowship sessions bi-monthly covering 4 key content areas: i) Leadership Development, ii) Civic Engagement, iii) Community Development and, iv) Public Policy – all critical elements that will aid Fellows in successfully engaging communities and supporting civic engagement activities at their host CBO.
Full-time CBO Employment: This Fellow will work full-time at their host CBO for approximately one year (June 2026-June 2027) as an employee of the CUNY RF. They will work on civic engagement projects determined by their CBO, in consultation with CUNY ISLG and CFB.
The core of this Fellowship is creating community among the Fellows and building a corps of civically engaged CUNY students to support CBOs in conducting civic engagement activities in New York City. Additionally, this Fellowship provides a year of paid employment at a community-based organization working to engage and support civic connections.
The host CBOs will be responsible for day-to-day mentorship, supervision and task management of the Fellows. Tasks that the Fellows may be responsible for include (but are not limited to):
Researching levels of civic engagement in the community and developing strategies to increase civic engagement
Learning about the policy priorities of the local communities where they are embedded
Identifying barriers to civic engagement that currently exist in the community
Organizing community meetings
Planning and hosting community education events
Facilitating community conversations and engaging with neighborhood residents
Taking notes at meetings
Providing coordination support for scheduling meetings with partners
Engaging with elected officials and other community stakeholders
Assisting in the preparation of materials for meetings, policy briefs, blogs and other communications
We would love to hear from you if
You are/have:
A CUNY student in your senior year in good standing and with an expected graduation date by Summer 2026
Able to commit to a full-time schedule from June 2026 - June 2027
Interest and/or experience in civic engagement and community-building
Interest in working in a nonprofit Community-Based Organization
Excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments
Ability to write and present in an articulate, structured, and compelling manner
Ability to prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously
Flexibility about projects and workflow
Passion about equitable state and local policy solutions to pressing social issues
Experience in participatory action research and/or other community engagement approaches a plus
Fluency in a language other than English is a plus, including but not limited to Spanish, Kru, Ibo, Yoruba, Bengali, and/or French.
Given that the CBO work will be located in the Bronx, students at a Bronx CUNY campus and/or living in or near Community Districts 1-7 are particularly encouraged to apply
CUNY ISLG is open to flexibility on the requirements above, but we would expect candidates to fit most of the items described.
How to Apply
We ask that candidates submit the following materials:
A cover letter explaining why you are interested in the Civic Engagement Fellowship and why you are a fit for this role
A resume or curriculum vitae (1 page limit)
The contact information for 2 references (preferably professors or former supervisors of employment relating to civic engagement work)
Unofficial transcripts (Strongly Recommended)
All application documents must be in English and submitted in a single PDF. Please use the subject line “Civic Engagement Fellowship Application.” Please upload all required attachments in the Resume/CV section. Incomplete application packets will not be considered.
Pay Range
$54,000 Annually June 2026-2027
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (CUNY ISLG) is a good governance think-and-do tank dedicated to improving government effectiveness and efficiency. Established in 2013, CUNY ISLG works with state and local governments, higher education, public institutions and community-based organizations (CBOs) across 60+ jurisdictions in the U.S. Relevant to this opportunity, CUNY ISLG’s work includes designing and implementing Fellowship programs for elected officials and legislative Chiefs of Staff, in addition to creating learning spaces for CUNY students and offering training and technical assistance (TTA) and grantee management services to CBOs. For more information about ISLG, please visit: https://islg.cuny.edu/
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, Fellows, interns, and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Communications Associate/Senior Communications Associate, Editorial
Who we are looking for
We are hiring an Editorial Associate to join CUNY ISLG’s growing communications department at either the Associate (4-6 years of relevant experience) or Senior Associate (7+ years of relevant experience) level. This position, which encompasses writing, editing, and design, will play a critical role in helping the Institute grow and refine its editorial footprint while ensuring all external-facing content is informative, relevant, engaging, and held to high editorial standards.
This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial- and civic-minded communications professional with experience both writing and editing in a public policy setting. While the substantive duties of this role will entail facilitating the development and publication of project-based reports, briefs, and related materials, the Editorial Associate will be encouraged to think creatively and develop original content and workstreams relevant to CUNY ISLG’s work and mission.
The Editorial Associate will report to the Communications Project Director (CPD) and will work closely with them as well as other Communications staff, research and policy staff, and colleagues across the organization on a range of tasks. Responsibilities will include:
Strategic Content Development
Work with Communications colleagues and project teams to develop key messaging on external-facing publications that reinforce project and organizational priorities, and ensure all products and copy adhere to it.
Guide and manage the editorial development—including conceptualizing, outlining, editing, and proofing—of long-form products (i.e., reports, briefs) written by research and policy staff, ensuring they adhere to organizational standards and are cohesive, engaging, audience-focused, and on schedule.
When appropriate, contribute to the drafting of aforementioned long-form products.
Propose, draft, and/or edit supplementary products (i.e., blogs, fact sheets, e-blasts) that highlight the impact of projects.
Propose and/or write Q&As, op-eds, features, and other forms of non-project content relevant to ISLG’s work and mission.
Apply SEO best practices across digital publications—including keyword strategy, headline optimization, metadata, internal linking, and content structure—to improve search visibility, reach, and long-term discoverability.
Contribute to the drafting of social media posts to promote content.
Communication Design and Branding
Work with colleagues to determine the best presentation for publications, including PDFs, web reports, or blogs.
Flow copy into branded templates (i.e., on InDesign) or manage vendors doing so.
Input content into web design templates.
Edit and update content for CUNY ISLG’s website or sites it manages, aligning the website with changing context, needs, and trends in the field.
This position is hybrid and based in New York City. CUNY ISLG staff work out of the Midtown office two days a week of their choosing, but overlapping at least one in-office day with the CPD.
We would love to hear from you if
You have a BA or higher (or equivalent experience) and a minimum of 4 years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in policy writing, editing, content development, journalism, or copywriting.
Associate: 4-6 years of relevant experience.
Senior Associate: 7+ years of relevant experience.
You have strong writing skills, including substantial experience drafting original content.
You have substantial experience constructively and collaboratively editing the work of colleagues.
You have an understanding of communication design practices, such as layout and web design.
You have excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
You are familiar with the public policy landscape in New York and/or nationally.
You can prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
You have an exceptional commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.
You are familiar with:
The Chicago Manual of Style.
Content management systems, such as Squarespace and/or WordPress.
Design tools (e.g., Adobe InDesign and Canva).
CSS/HTML (not a requirement but a plus).
SEO/GEO practices.
Potential candidates with some, but not all, of the listed experience are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome a range of traditional and non-traditional backgrounds as well as opportunities to develop skillsets on the job.
How to Apply
You will need to submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and interests and attach your curriculum vitae and links to/attachments of any portfolios or writing samples you’d like to share. Specify whether you are applying to the Associate or Senior Associate position in your cover letter. Questions about the position can be addressed to info@islg.cuny.edu. Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.
A note on AI usage: While AI-generated content can be a useful tool and is increasingly being used in the communications fields, we’d like to note to candidates that the hiring process (the cover letter, in particular) is the employer’s first opportunity to gauge the applicant’s unique voice and writing ability.
PAY RANGE
This is a full-time position in New York City. The Associate salary range of $65,000-$85,000 and the Senior Associate salary range is $80,000-$100,000. The role offers excellent benefits, including:
Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance
Paid vacation and personal days
Paid sick leave
CUNY tuition reimbursement program
Pre-tax benefits for transit and healthcare costs
Family/parental leave
Life insurance
A retirement plan with employer contribution.
Our staff also benefit from:
A positive work/life balance.
Opportunities for advancement within the organization.
Engagement with the broader CUNY network.
Working with organizational leadership who have years of significant public sector and policymaking expertise.
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Communications Associate/Senior Communications Associate, External Affairs
Who we are looking for
We are hiring an External Affairs Associate to join CUNY ISLG’s growing communications department at either the Associate (4-6 years of relevant experience) or Senior Associate (7+ years of relevant experience) level. This position, which encompasses messaging development, media relations, and digital promotion, will play a critical role in helping the Institute grow its impact by getting its work in the hands of key audiences who need it.
This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial- and civic-minded professional with experience communicating public policy research and programs to a wide range of audiences. While the substantive duties of this role will entail facilitating the dissemination of project-based reports, briefs, organizational updates, and related materials, the External Affairs Associate will be encouraged to think creatively about how to promote CUNY ISLG and its work to a variety of audiences.
The External Affairs Associate will report to the Communications Project Director (CPD) and will work closely with them as well as other Communications staff, research and policy staff, and colleagues across the organization on a range of tasks. Responsibilities will include:
Messaging
Work with Communications colleagues and project teams to develop key messaging on external-facing publications that reinforce project and organizational priorities.
External Relations
Guide and manage the release planning for CUNY ISLG products, including:
Craft talking points aligned with project and organizational messaging.
Design outreach plans inclusive of traditional media, new media, events (such as webinars), and government and community partners.
Draft press releases.
Develop and maintain relationships with relevant outlets, reporters, community partners, and others who can amplify CUNY ISLG’s work.
Identify and support speaking, writing, and other opportunities (e.g., events, panels, op-eds) to highlight ISLG’s staff and impact, and work with staff at all levels to prepare.
Digital Outreach
Manage CUNY ISLG’s social media strategies, including developing and posting project-related content, relevant news stories, and other posts promoting CUNY ISLG’s projects and messaging to Bluesky, X, LinkedIn, and Facebook accounts.
This may include the creation of graphics (i.e., on Canva) as needed.
Monitor and report on analytics data that measures outreach impact.
Identify and lead opportunities to improve or refine ISLG’s digital footprint as it relates to messaging reach.
This position is hybrid and based in New York City. CUNY ISLG staff work out of the Midtown office two days a week of their choosing, but overlapping at least one in-office day with the CPD.
Qualifications
We would love to hear from you if:
You have a BA or higher (or equivalent experience) and 4+ years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in policy communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
Associate: 4-6 years of relevant experience.
Senior Associate: 7+ years of relevant experience.
You have strong writing skills, including experience drafting press releases and other release-related content.
You have familiarity with the New York public policy and media landscape and its reporters, outlets, and channels, as well as an understanding of relevant national outlets.
Senior Associate: You have demonstrated relationships with and have had placements within relevant outlets.
You have experience tracking media mentions and measuring the impact of outreach.
You have experience managing social media accounts, including content planning and creation.
You have excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
You can prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
You have an exceptional commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.
You are familiar with:
Media monitoring tools/platforms
Google Analytics
Social media planning platforms (Buffer, etc.)
Potential candidates with some, but not all, of the listed experience are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome a range of traditional and non-traditional backgrounds as well as opportunities to develop skillsets on the job.
How to Apply
You will need to submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and interests and attach your curriculum vitae and links to/attachments of any portfolios or writing samples you’d like to share. Specify whether you are applying to the Associate or Senior Associate position in your cover letter. Questions about the position can be addressed to info@islg.cuny.edu. Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.
A note on AI usage: While AI-generated content can be a useful tool and is increasingly being used in the communications fields, we’d like to note to candidates that the hiring process (the cover letter, in particular) is the employer’s first opportunity to gauge the applicant’s unique voice and writing ability.
PAY RANGE
This is a full-time position in New York City. The Associate salary range of $65,000-$85,000 and the Senior Associate salary range is $80,000-$100,000. The role offers excellent benefits, including:
Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance
Paid vacation and personal days
Paid sick leave
CUNY tuition reimbursement program
Pre-tax benefits for transit and healthcare costs
Family/parental leave
Life insurance
A retirement plan with employer contribution.
Our staff also benefit from:
A positive work/life balance.
Opportunities for advancement within the organization.
Engagement with the broader CUNY network.
Working with organizational leadership who have years of significant public sector and policymaking expertise.
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Policy Associate—Operations
Who we are looking for
The CUNY ISLG Operations team is hiring a Policy Associate to provide research on fiscal practices, efficiency and effectiveness measures for governmental and not-for-profit organizations. The Operations team partners with governments, public institutions, and nonprofits to apply analytical analysis and strategic insights to financial and operational challenges affecting complex organizations and programs. Through financial planning, policy analysis, process redesign, and strategic implementation support, the team helps organizations operate more efficiently and equitably to advance impactful and long-term solutions.
The primary focus of the position will be to provide expertise in municipal, state, and not-for-profit budgets and policy, develop strong understanding of the interplay and sources of funds between multiple levels of government, and analyze data and support senior staff on recommendations to jurisdictions on policy and funding priorities.
The Policy Associate will report to a Senior Policy Associate on a range of tasks, which may include but are not limited to:
Conducting research on federal, state, municipal and not-for-profit budget policies.
Collecting and analyze data.
Working with our team to develop comparative analyses of budget and other policy matters and provide recommendations on best practices for our clients.
Conducting independent research.
Developing reports and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations.
Collaborating with clients to help them understand the implications of different budget policy matters, and to develop strategies for implementing them effectively.
Other duties as assigned
This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial- and civic-minded professional interested in working in a public policy setting, and for a range of audiences that include government and university officials, funders, researchers, and the general public. This is also an excellent opportunity to develop an understanding of government policy-making in New York and nationally.
Our office is located in New York City, and the position will be hybrid.
We would love to hear from you if
You have an MA or PhD.
You have a MA with 4+ years experience working full-time in a government, private and/or nonprofit organization, managing large projects with multiple stakeholders, or a PhD with 1+ year of full time work experience.
You have demonstrated subject matter expertise in public finance and/or public policy research.
You have exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate closely with staff and create and maintain excellent working relationships with government and other partners.
You are able to adapt to changing demands and requirements as projects develop, and to participate in collaborative project development with a diverse internal team and external stakeholders.
You have excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
You can prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
You have an exceptional commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.
You have excellent writing skills.
You are flexible.
How to Apply
To apply please submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and interests and attach your curriculum vitae. Questions about the position can be addressed to info@islg.cuny.edu. Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Pay Range:
This is a full-time position in New York City with a salary range of $65,000-$85,000, depending on experience, and excellent benefits, including:
Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance.
Paid vacation and personal days.
Paid sick leave.
CUNY tuition reimbursement program.
Pre-tax benefits for transit and healthcare costs.
Family/parental leave.
Life insurance.
A retirement plan with employer contribution.
Our staff also benefit from:
A positive work/life balance.
Opportunities for advancement within the organization.
Engagement with the broader CUNY network.
Working with organizational leadership who have years of significant public sector and policy-making expertise.
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Senior Policy Associate—Operations
Who we are looking for
The CUNY ISLG Operations team is hiring a Senior Policy Associate to work on projects supporting states, cities and not-for-profits with their budget and policy agendas. This will include research, data analysis, and advisory support and technical assistance to our partners.
This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial- and civic-minded professional interested in working in a public policy setting, and for a range of audiences that include government and university officials, funders, researchers, and the general public. This is also an excellent opportunity to develop an understanding of government policymaking in New York and nationally.
The Senior Policy Associate will report to a Program Director on a range of tasks, which may include but are not limited to:
Manage a work plan, timeline, and processes for the project toward completion of designated deliverables; ensure the integrity of all deliverables.
Build and manage day-to-day relationships with government and other partners, including attending meetings and managing correspondence between meetings, and serving as an ongoing advisor and technical assistance provider to these partners.
Represent ISLG at external meetings and events.
Facilitate meetings with staff and/or other external stakeholders and lead site visits as needed.
Document findings and technical assistance needs.
Problem-solve issues that arise and think critically about all aspects of the project work, including course changes or plan revisions as needed to meet deliverables.
Write memos, policy reports, proposals, and publications; present policy findings to external stakeholders as needed and appropriate.
Work closely with Program Directors and Senior Fellows to contribute to project development and strategy for the police reform portfolio and for the Institute overall.
Other duties as assigned.
Our office is located in New York City and the position will be hybrid.
We would love to hear from you if
You have a JD, MA, or PhD.
You have substantial experience (at least 7 years with a JD or MA; 4+ years with a PhD) working full-time in a government, private and/or nonprofit organization, managing large projects with multiple stakeholders.
You have demonstrated subject matter expertise in public finance and/or public policy research.
You have exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate closely with staff and create and maintain excellent working relationships with government and other partners.
You are able to adapt to changing demands and requirements as projects develop, and to participate in collaborative project development with a diverse internal team and external stakeholders.
You have excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
You can prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
You have an exceptional commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.
You have excellent writing skills.
You are flexible.
How to Apply
To apply please submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and interests and attach your curriculum vitae. Questions about the position can be addressed to info@islg.cuny.edu. Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled
Pay Range:
This is a full-time position in New York City with a salary range of $90,000-$120,000, depending on experience, and excellent benefits, including:
Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance.
Paid vacation and personal days.
Paid sick leave.
CUNY tuition reimbursement program.
Pre-tax benefits for transit and healthcare costs.
Family/parental leave.
Life insurance.
A retirement plan with employer contribution.
Our staff also benefit from:
A positive work/life balance.
Opportunities for advancement within the organization.
Engagement with the broader CUNY network.
Working with organizational leadership who have years of significant public sector and policymaking expertise.
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Summer Data Science Intern
Who we are looking for
CUNY ISLG is recruiting up to 2 (two) CUNY undergraduate and/or graduate student data science interns to support the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC), an initiative to reduce over-incarceration by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails. ISLG serves as the primary data and research partner for the SJC. Among ISLG’s responsibilities is providing data, measurement, and analytic support to participating cities and counties across the country. This support includes the collection, cleaning, validation, and management of administrative criminal legal system case-level data and contributes to the broader research and evaluation agenda of the Challenge.
The interns will work closely with data and research staff to translate practical data processing needs into programming work. This may include
Developing syntax to clean, validate, and standardize administrative data files and
Conducting data diagnostics to assess data quality, identify discrepancies, and ensure consistency across datasets.
The core of this internship is creating community and peer-to-peer learning among ISLG interns across Institute departments; to foster community we will have bi-weekly, in-person convenings that will cover a range of topics such as relationship building, project management, etc.
We are hiring interns to work at ISLG from May 26th to July 30th. Interns will have a hybrid work schedule and report to a designated CUNY ISLG staff member. Interns will work on a range of tasks within the project(s) listed above as well as others not listed here. Tasks that the interns may be responsible for include:
Supporting the standardization of administrative case-level data across multiple source systems.
Evaluating data quality, completeness, and consistency to support research and operational use.
Assisting with the development and documentation of structured data assets (e.g., relational databases, data inventories, and data documentation).
Translating analytic and data management needs into reproducible programming workflows.
Developing and implementing scripts to clean, process, validate, and standardize administrative data.
Documenting data management processes, technical methodologies, and key decisions.
Creating data summaries and visualizations to communicate analytical findings.
Assisting with additional tasks as needed to support ISLG’s initiatives.
Qualifications
Currently enrolled in one of the following degree programs at a CUNY school or have graduated from such a program within the last year: computer science, data analytics, data science, data/information management, economics, or related field.
Possess demonstrated experience carrying out technical tasks related to the collection, management, and dissemination of complex source data (i.e., writing syntax to import, validate, normalize, merge, restructure, and/or clean disparate data files for analysis).
Strong proficiency required in one or more of the following programming languages: Python (strongly preferred), R, and/or SQL.
Ability to communicate technical work and with team members in an accessible manner.
We would love to hear from you if you are/have
Ability to commit to a consistent schedule of approximately 35 hours per week for the internship period (i.e., May 26– July 30).
Ability to attend peer-to-peer credentialed in-person weekly sessions currently anticipated to be scheduled on Wednesday’s from 9:00 am-11:00 am.
Excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
Ability to prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
Flexibility about projects and workflow.
Passion about equitable state and local policy solutions to pressing social issues.
ISLG is open to flexibility on the requirements above, but we would expect candidates to fit most of the items described.
How to Apply—Application deadline is March 6, 2026
To apply for an internship, we ask that candidates submit the following materials by March 6, 2026:
A cover letter that includes your area(s) of interest, how you hope to contribute to ISLG’s mission, and your proposed start and end dates and work schedule (1 page limit).
A resume or curriculum vitae (1 page limit).
The contact information for 2 references (preferably professors or former supervisors of employment relating to the work of CUNY ISLG).
Unofficial transcripts (strongly recommended).
Questions can be addressed to info@islg.cuny.edu.
Pay Range
Minimum-Maximum: $20.00/hour for undergraduates
Minimum-Maximum: $25.00/hour for graduates
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Summer Legal Intern
Who we are looking for
ISLG is recruiting up to 1 CUNY Law Student to work on a variety of projects, including projects focused on
Partnering with city agencies to implement a variety of policy initiatives and programming;
Providing funding and training and support to organizations that incorporate community-based restorative justice practices;
Developing fellowship programs; and
Collecting and analyzing data from various sources (jails, community partners, health and mental health service providers, municipalities, etc.) in connection with research and evaluation projects.
Specifically, we are seeking an intern to support the Legal Department on a range of legal and policy matters, including:
Assisting with drafting legal documents such as grantee contracts, data use agreements, amendments, and memoranda;
Reviewing project-specific materials, including scopes of work, requests for work proposals and submissions, and other program materials;
Participating in meetings and calls with internal teams and external partners about legal and policy matters;
Supporting the Legal Department in reviewing and drafting policies and procedures, including data security policies; and
Assisting the Legal Department with administrative support, including developing and updating legal templates, organizing project files, and other matters as needed.
The core of this internship is creating community and peer-to-peer learning among ISLG interns; to foster community we will have bi-weekly in-person convening that will cover a range of topics such as relationship building, project management, participatory policy making, etc.
We are hiring interns to work at ISLG from May 26 to July 30, 2026. Interns will have a hybrid work schedule and report to a designated ISLG staff member. Interns will work on a range of tasks to support the projects listed above as well as others not listed here.
Qualifications
We would love to hear from you, if you are/have:
Currently enrolled in CUNY’s Juris Doctor (JD) program with strong academic standing
Ability to commit to a consistent schedule of approximately 35 hours per week for the internship period
Ability to attend peer-to-peer credentialed in-person weekly sessions, currently anticipated to be scheduled on Wednesday’s from 9:00am-11:00am
Ability to work from the CUNY ISLG office in Manhattan on certain days, in coordination with the Legal team
Personal, professional, or academic knowledge of any of the following fields/areas: public interest law, contract law, criminal legal reform, police reform, data-driven research and evaluation, peer leadership development, restorative justice, gender-based violence, community engagement, youth development, and violence intervention
Excellent research and writing skills with attention to detail
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments
Ability to prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously
Flexibility about projects and workflow
Passion about equitable state and local policy solutions to pressing social issues
ISLG is open to flexibility on the requirements above, but we would expect candidates to fit most of the items described.
How to Apply—Applications are due march 6,2026
To apply for an internship please submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and interests and attach your curriculum vitae. Additionally, we ask that candidates submit the following materials:
A cover letter that includes your area(s) of interest, how you hope to contribute to ISLG’s mission, and your proposed start and end dates and work schedule. (1 page limit)
A resume/curriculum vitae. (1 page limit)
The contact information for 2 references (preferably professors or former supervisors of employment relating to the work of ISLG).
Unofficial transcripts (Strongly Recommended).
Legal writing sample.
All application documents must be in English and submitted in a single PDF via OneRF by the deadline below. Incomplete application packets will not be considered. Questions can be sent to info@islg.cuny.edu.
Pay Range
Minimum-Maximum: $25.00/hour
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Summer Operations Intern
Who we are looking for
ISLG is recruiting for 1 CUNY undergraduate and/or graduate student intern to work on its Operations team, on projects including:
Municipality Budget & Policy Projects - ISLG is working with multiple municipalities on various policy and budget projects to assess current budget management and financial planning capacities, develop a comprehensive set of recommendations, and assist in the implementation of agreed to recommendations.
CUNY Efficiencies for Re-Investment & Innovation (ERI) initiative – With the goal of unleashing $75 million in cumulative savings, CUNY launched the Efficiencies for Re-Investment & Innovation (ERI) initiative, and selected ISLG as a strategic partner with expertise in the operational challenges and opportunities of a large institution. The ISLG Operations team is continually working with CUNY on projects to streamline efficiency.
This work entails, but not limited to policy research, data analysis, budget analysis, stakeholder research and engagement.
The core of this internship is creating community and peer-to-peer learning among ISLG interns; to foster community we will have bi-weekly in-person convenings that will cover a range of topics such as relationship building, project management, participatory policy making, etc.
We are hiring interns to work at ISLG from June 2nd to August 1st. Interns will have a hybrid work schedule and report to a designated ISLG staff member. Interns will work on a range of tasks within the projects listed above as well as others not listed here. Interns may work on one or more of the project areas above, as well as other projects. Tasks that the interns may be responsible for include:
Writing literature reviews and policy briefs on a variety of policy issues
Analyzing and summarizing data
Taking notes at external staff meetings
Assisting in the preparation of materials for meetings, blogs, and other communications
Other tasks as needed to support the ISLG Operations Team’s work
Qualifications
We would love to hear from you, if you are/have:
Currently enrolled in a degree program at a CUNY school or graduated from such a program within the last year.
Ability to commit to a consistent schedule of approximately 35 hours per week for the internship period (i.e., June 2- August 1).
Ability to attend peer-to-peer credentialed in-person weekly sessions on Wednesday’s from 9:00 am-11:00 am.
Personal, professional, or academic knowledge of any of the following fields: policy research, policy analysis, budget analysis, public finance, project management, stakeholder engagement, presentation skills.
Excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
Ability to write and present in an articulate, structured, and compelling manner.
Ability to prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
Flexibility about projects and workflow.
Passion about government and public institutions and helping them work and operate more equitably, effectively, and efficiently.
Fluency in Spanish is a plus.
ISLG is open to flexibility in the requirements above, but we would expect candidates to fit most of the items described.
How to Apply—Applications are due march 6, 2026
To apply for an internship, you will need to submit the following:
A cover letter that includes your area(s) of interest, how you hope to contribute to ISLG’s mission, and your proposed start and end dates and work schedule. (1 page limit)
A resume or curriculum vitae. (1 page limit)
The contact information for 2 references (preferably professors or former supervisors of employment relating to the work of ISLG).
Unofficial transcripts (optional but strongly recommended).
All applicants will receive an additional ISLG’s Internship Program application form (which will be emailed to all candidates).
Pay Range
Minimum-Maximum: $20.00/hour for undergraduates
Minimum-Maximum: $25.00/hour for graduates
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Summer Policy Intern
Who we are looking for
ISLG is recruiting up to 5 CUNY undergraduate and/or graduate student interns to work on a variety of projects, spanning a range of policy areas, including:
Community-Based Restorative Justice: ISLG is managing the Community-Based Restorative Justice Grant program (CBRJ), on behalf of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. This program aims to incorporate or expand restorative practices and approaches in New York City. Through this initiative, 16 organizations have been funded to already perform restorative justice work or to incorporate restorative justice practices into their work. Interns will participate in team meetings and meetings with grantees, take notes, develop international RJ landscape analysis, and work on comms i.e., blogs and grantee spotlights.
Project Restore: In partnership with the King’s County District Attorney’s Office (KCDA), ISLG is developing the infrastructure, administering contracts, and ensuring the sustainability of Project Restore in Brooklyn. The goals of Project Restore are to reduce gang-related and retaliatory violence, improve community safety, and support the positive development of young people most at risk of involvement in gun violence. The program aims to interrupt cycles of violence before they escalate by providing trauma-informed, community-led interventions rooted in restorative justice and public health principles. It seeks to create pathways to stability and opportunity through access to education, employment, mentoring, and emotional healing, while reducing young people’s contact with the criminal legal system. Project Restore also strives to build sustainable, community-based infrastructure for violence prevention by investing in local organizations and leaders with lived experience. Interns will participate in team meetings and meetings with grantees, assist with the development and execution of a solicitation, and support logistics and administration for the initiative.
Diversion and Reentry and Community Safety Initiatives: ISLG is assisting the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) to develop and implement policies and programs aimed at reducing the jail population and increasing stability and wellbeing in the community through high-quality diversion and reentry initiatives. Additionally, ISLG is partnering with MOCJ and other government agencies to implement a precision public safety and community wellbeing initiative focused on investing in community supports at the hyper local level to develop tailored crime reduction strategies in partnership with residents to reduce violence and increase safety. Interns will participate in team meetings and meetings with non-profit service providers and government agencies, research evidence-based practices and clinical trainings, write policy and procedure documents, and support logistics and administration for the initiatives.
Education: ISLG in partnership with NYC’s Campaign Finance Board, also launched a new fellowship in 2025 for CUNY Seniors called the Civic Engagement Fellowship (CEF). The fellowship is an innovative program designed to foster voter education and engagement in the Bronx by embedding CUNY students (Fellows) in community-based organizations (CBOs) grantees that serve the borough. Interns will support CEF by attending and taking notes during internal planning meetings, supporting logistics for Fellowship meetings, and attending CBO grantee check-ins.
Gender Based Violence Projects: One of the projects in ISLG’s gender-based violence portfolio is the Criminalized Survivor Project. This is a participatory initiative aimed at documenting the barriers faced by GBV survivors who have experienced arrest, indictment, incarceration, or other interactions with the criminal legal system. The policy intern will also assist on a project that explores what happens in NYC during the first 24-72 hours after a crime is reported, including mandated and voluntary responses, coordination across agencies, and barriers to survivor services and wellbeing. The policy intern will participate in team meetings, help transcribe interviews, and review data.
The core of this internship is creating community and peer-to-peer learning among ISLG interns; to foster community we will have bi-weekly in-person convenings that will cover a range of topics such as relationship building, project management, participatory policy making, etc.
We are hiring interns to work at ISLG from May 26th to July 30th. Interns will have a hybrid work schedule and report to a designated ISLG staff member. Interns will work on a range of tasks within the projects listed above as well as others not listed here. Interns may work on one or more of the project areas above, as well as other projects. Tasks that the interns may be responsible for include:
Taking notes at meetings.
Providing coordination support for scheduling meetings with partners.
Assisting in the preparation of materials for meetings, policy briefs, blogs and other communications.
Other tasks as needed to support ISLG’s work.
We would love to hear from you if you are/have
Ability to commit to a consistent schedule of up to 35 hours per week for the internship period (i.e., May 26th– July 30th).
Ability to attend peer-to-peer credentialed in-person weekly sessions, currently anticipated to be scheduled on Wednesdays from 9:00 am-11:00 am.
Personal, professional, or academic knowledge of any of the following fields: gender-based violence, criminal legal reform, police reform, peer leadership development, restorative justice, community engagement, youth development, civic engagement, and violence intervention.
Excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
Ability to write and present in an articulate, structured, and compelling manner.
Ability to prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
Flexibility about projects and workflow.
Passion about equitable state and local policy solutions to pressing social issues.
Experience in participatory action research and/or other community engagement approaches a plus.
Fluency in a language other than English is a plus .
CUNY ISLG is open to flexibility on the requirements above, but we would expect candidates to fit most of the qualifications described.
How to Apply—Applications are due march 6, 2026
To apply for the internship, we ask to include the following materials to complete your application:
A cover letter that includes your area(s) of interest, and how you hope to contribute to ISLG’s mission. (1 page limit)
A resume or curriculum vitae. (1 page limit)
The contact information for 2 references (preferably professors or former supervisors of employment relating to the work of ISLG).
Unofficial transcripts (strongly recommended).
Questions can be sent to info@islg.cuny.edu.
Pay Range
Minimum-Maximum: $20.00/hour for undergraduates
Minimum-Maximum: $25.00/hour for graduates
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Summer Research Intern
Who we are looking for
ISLG is recruiting up to four (4) CUNY undergraduate and/or graduate student interns to work on a variety of research projects. Interns may work on one or more projects and may contribute to a number of quantitative or qualitative analyses and help with project administration. Potential projects include but are not limited to:
The Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) is a national initiative launched in 2015 by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The initiative advances fair and effective policies and practices across the local criminal legal system, with three key goals–reduce jail populations; promote racial equity and reduce racial/ethnic disparities in jails; and advance community safety. Over 50 cities and counties across the country participate in the SJC and CUNY ISLG serves as the national intermediary and primary data and analytic partner. As the initiative will be sunsetting in December 2026, CUNY ISLG is working to establish the SJC legacy through a data archive and a legacy website. The data archive will house criminal legal data collected from SJC sites by CUNY ISLG throughout the course of the initiative. The “one-stop-shop” legacy website will contain critical resources, reports, tools, and other products created under the SJC—including legacy materials that present key summative learnings—for various audiences and actors that contribute to local change.
The Prosecutorial Data Collaborative supports prosecutors’ offices in building the infrastructure and culture necessary to effectively use data in their offices, courtrooms, and communities to support decision-making and policy. This includes the development of tools and processes to assist prosecutors in managing their offices, assessing performance, and ensuring that office practices align with leadership goals and priorities. Assistance may involve the development of data dashboards, deeper dive analyses of particular aspects of office practice, technical assistance with data interpretation, and sustainability planning and support.
The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) is a Bureau of Justice Assistance initiative that provides funding for the development, implementation, or expansion of comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by opioids, stimulants and other drugs.
The BJA Smart Supervision Project is a Bureau of Justice Assistance funded project to develop an Integrated Data System (IDS) in York County, Pennsylvania. The IDS will integrate client- and case-level records from criminal justice, medical and behavioral health, and human service entities operating in the County. The goals of the integrated data system are to help support more effective client case management by sharing information about client involvement in multiple systems (e.g., probation, jail, mental health, substance use), and to increase successful and equitable outcomes for probation supervision clients. CUNY ISLG serves as the research and evaluation partner for the project.
The core of this internship is creating community and peer-to-peer learning among ISLG interns; to foster community we will have bi-weekly, in-person convenings that will cover a range of topics such as relationship building, project management, etc.
We are hiring interns to work at ISLG from May 26– July 30. Interns will have a hybrid work schedule and report to a designated ISLG staff member. Interns will work on a range of tasks within the project(s) listed above as well as others not listed here.
We are seeking research interns who will work on quantitative or qualitative tasks or a combination of the two. Tasks that the interns may be responsible for include:
Writing syntax to process, validate and standardize case-level administrative data files for analysis.
Attending meetings with project partners and taking notes.
Conducting literature reviews around a variety of topics.
Synthesizing research publications across SJC priority areas, including those identified above.
Contributing to public-facing written products, including policy and issue briefs, and presentations for academic and community audiences.
Other tasks as needed to support ISLG’s work.
Qualifications
Currently enrolled in one of the following degree programs at a CUNY school or have graduated from such a program within the last year: criminal justice, sociology, or other social science field.
Possess demonstrated experience carrying out tasks related to the collection, management, and dissemination of complex data.
Proficiency in one or more of the following programming languages: R, Stata, SPSS (data-focused interns).
Experience and/or interest in qualitative research including interviews, focus groups, and qualitative coding analysis.
Experience and/or interest in community engagement approaches to research.
Understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis.
Ability to summarize key findings and synthesize results across multiple research publications.
Ability to communicate and work with team members in an accessible manner.
We would love to hear from you if you have
Ability to commit to a consistent schedule of approximately 35 hours per week for the internship period (May 26– July 30).
Ability to attend peer-to-peer credentialed in-person weekly sessions currently anticipated to be scheduled on Wednesday’s from 9:00 am-11:00 am.
Excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.
Ability to prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.
Flexibility about projects and workflow.
Passion about equitable state and local policy solutions to pressing social issues.
ISLG is open to flexibility on the requirements above, but we would expect candidates to fit most of the items described.
How to Apply—Application deadline is March 6, 2026
To apply for an internship, we ask that candidates submit the following materials by March 6, 2026:
A cover letter that includes your area(s) of interest, how you hope to contribute to ISLG’s mission, and your proposed start and end dates and work schedule. (1 page limit)
A resume or curriculum vitae. (1 page limit)
The contact information for 2 references (preferably professors or former supervisors of employment relating to the work of ISLG).
Unofficial transcripts (strongly recommended).
Questions can be sent to info@islg.cuny.edu.
Pay Range
Minimum-Maximum: $20.00/hour for undergraduates
Minimum-Maximum: $25.00/hour for graduates
RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
About CUNY ISLG
The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.
Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion
We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.