SI - Mapping the Civics Landscape

PPIC's Summer Intern Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students interested in a public policy career to work in a policy research environment. Intern projects are proposed by PPIC staff members and designed around a specific set of tasks and deliverables that can be accomplished within the term of the internship. Please complete your application by February 9, 2026. We expect to make final selection decisions by mid-April.

Project title: Mapping the Civics Landscape and Translating Policy Research for Student Engagement

Project Directors: Jen Paluch and Eric McGhee

Project Description

Over the past two years, PPIC has embarked on CalCivics, an ambitious effort to build connections, provide information, and create new opportunities for high school and community college students to share their views, develop critical thinking skills, and learn to effect the change they hope to see in their communities.

The primary objective of the summer internship will be to build upon partnerships already in place in order to expand the initiative. [CD1] This internship will build on the school[CD2] district level analysis already completed and expand to focus on statewide, regional or local organizations and programs that operate outside of schools. The intern will substantially advance the creation of a comprehensive inventory of civic education and engagement initiatives across California, helping CalCivics better understand patterns, opportunities, and gaps in the state's civics ecosystem. Time permitting, the intern will work with the team to build content for student engagement sessions.

Responsibilities

The intern will work with project leaders to:

Identify and document civics education and engagement programs at the state, nonprofit, and community-based levels. Focusing on organizations and initiatives with year-round operations, including: state agencies, nonprofits and youth-focused organizations with statewide reach, library systems, museums, and civic organizations with ongoing programs. Categorize programs by type, audience, geography, and delivery model to explore preliminary analysis of patterns in the distribution of civics programming across California. Additionally, the intern will help identify opportunities to deepen existing partnerships or reach newly identified civic programs. If time allows, the intern will work with the team to help shape content for student sessions, including resources and toolkits. The intern will be a member of the Understanding California's Future policy group.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a current undergraduate student with a demonstrated interest in community issues, public service, policy, or justice through coursework, volunteer work, or community involvement.

Strong candidates will have:

Experience gathering, organizing, and synthesizing data from public sources

Strong research, writing, and verbal communication skills

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team

Comfort receiving feedback, adapting to new information, and adjusting direction as neededA creative, resourceful approach to problem-solving

The Research Environment

Interns are offered the opportunity to participate in the collegial atmosphere of PPIC through daily interaction with all aspects of the institute. They are invited to join the staff in their regular meetings and to attend PPIC's outside events, including the institute's public affairs programs and research briefings. PPIC offers access to the Institute of Governmental Sciences library at the University of California, Berkeley, allowing interns to work with many important databases, journals, and statistical datasets. The intern program also includes a discussion of California state policy by PPIC's government affairs staff.

Each intern's project will include an initial meeting with research staff, and towards the end of the project, a briefing by the intern on the goals, findings, and significance of the project. In 2026, the following days are expected to be in-person for all interns:

Internship kickoff in San Francisco

Capitol tour in Sacramento

Final presentations in San Francisco

Interns are encouraged to discuss their work throughout the course of the project, to meet with research staff to discuss careers in research, and to meet with communications staff to learn about outreach and building an audience of policymakers.

Location, Compensation, and Time on Project

The 2026 intern program will be conducted via hybrid or remote setup; the details of the setup will be arranged with the intern's supervisor. Interns will need to be based in California while working on a PPIC project.

Compensation is $23 per hour. This full-time internship will last up to ten weeks, ideally beginning June 15, 2026.

To Apply

As part of completing this application, submit your cover letter highlighting the particular skills you bring to the project and describing how this internship would contribute to your career development, and attach your resume as PDF or Word file.

Equal Employer Opportunity (EEO) statement:

PPIC celebrates diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents the backgrounds, perspectives, identities, and skills of California. No matter who you are, we invite you to apply for this role.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer.