Physicians for Human Rights takes pride in its strong internship program. Every semester, PHR is fortunate to host a group of academically successful and passionate students who represent the next generation of human rights advocates. Students joining the PHR intern team come from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including public health, international relations, nonprofit management, human rights, humanitarian studies, political science, medicine, and law, among others.
“My internship at PHR has helped me build confidence and gain hands-on exposure, all while learning from a team that genuinely invests in my growth. I truly appreciate the opportunity and experience I was able to gain at PHR!”
Summer 2025 intern
Fall 2026 Internships
- Advocacy Intern
- Capacity Development, Research Methods, and MEL Intern (Arabic-Speaking)
- Digital Campaigns Intern
- Human Resources Intern
- Research Intern
- Social Media and Video Intern
- Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Intern
PHR interns perform a range of substantive work, including research, data and video analysis for documentation of human rights violations, fundraising and event planning, and monitoring and reporting on human rights developments around the world. Our program affords students the opportunity to work closely alongside our experts and to contribute to our mission.
“My internship at PHR was incredibly enriching, allowing me to develop strong research and analytical skills while contributing to meaningful human rights projects. The team made the environment welcoming and comfortable, especially for a remote internship.”
Summer 2025 intern
Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Intern
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.
Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks a Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Intern for the Fall of 2026.
Location: Remote (NYC optional)
Reports to: Legal Fellow
Organizational Overview
Physicians for Human Rights was founded in 1986 by five physicians who were united in the belief that health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, are uniquely positioned to prevent harm and promote respect for human rights. Since its founding, PHR has built a long and distinguished record of accomplishment by conducting groundbreaking investigations and advocacy, in concert with strategic partners.
PHR’s approach includes extensive documentation of human rights abuses around the world. The intern will join the team that takes PHR’s research and translates it into legal advocacy. PHR has brought its expertise to some of the country’s most pressing human rights issues, including the use of crowd-control weapons against protesters, the health impacts of abortion bans, the rights of asylum seekers, and the impact of funding cuts to global health initiatives.
Internship Description
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is looking for a capable and enthusiastic intern wishing to gain direct experience in strategic litigation in the human rights space. This intern will work closely with the PHR legal and advocacy team in developing amicus briefs, preparing expert witness statements, attending advocacy meetings, and monitoring PHR’s litigation docket.
This internship is ideal for a law student interested in a career in human rights or humanitarian advocacy. You will be given exposure to a variety of PHR’s domestic legal advocacy efforts.
The strategic litigation and advocacy intern will attend departmental and staff meetings, as well as regular learning and social events with other interns and staff from PHR to round out the learning experience and complement PHR-provided career mentoring.
At this time, PHR requires applicants to obtain outside funding for this position. This position is remote, with the option for the intern to come into the office at PHR headquarters in New York City should they choose.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Contributing to the research and drafting of amicus briefs
- Updating PHR’s strategic litigation tracker and monitoring ongoing cases
- Contributing to the development of PHR’s strategic litigation by seeking upcoming opportunities for PHR to provide support through its research
- Assisting with general program and administrative work, including meeting preparations, background research, data entry, and internal reporting.
Qualifications and Experience
- The internship is open only to students enrolled at U.S. law schools who will have completed at least one year of law school before the internship commences
- Previous experiences in civil rights, reproductive rights, and immigrant rights or related field with policy or advocacy, through coursework, volunteer, or professional experience at local, national, or international level strongly desirable
- Strong written and verbal communications skills required, including excellent editing skills
- Excellent research and analytical skills required
- Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with PHR staff and external partners
- Demonstrated interest in and commitment to human rights
- Mature judgment, strong integrity, and ability to maintain strict confidentiality when required
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through
Location and Hours
- We welcome applications from candidates located out of state.
- The intern should anticipate working approximately 15 hours per week
- The internship will commence early September and run through late November.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume, to ksaltz@phr.org. Include “strategic litigation and advocacy intern, Fall 2026” in the subject line. Please include in your cover letter whether you are able to secure external funding or academic credit.
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Digital Campaigns Intern
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.
Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks a Digital Campaigns Intern.
Location: New York, New York and/or Hybrid
Reports to: Digital Communications Manager
Internship Description
The digital communications internship is ideal for a student seeking a hands-on opportunity to work on email marketing, digital storytelling, social media creative, donation page development, and graphic design in a nonprofit setting. The intern will work as an integral part of PHR’s digital team to help spread awareness of PHR’s efforts to document and prevent human rights abuses around the world.
The digital communications intern will attend departmental and staff meetings, as well as regular learning and social events with other interns and staff from PHR to round out the learning experience and complement PHR-provided career mentoring.
PHR offers stipends to student interns. The specific stipend amount will be determined by the average number of hours worked by the intern per week. Details will be further provided during the interview process.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Support the implementation, formatting, testing, and scheduling of email marketing and fundraising campaigns.
- Build and update donation forms and campaign landing pages within PHR’s digital fundraising platform, ensuring data is accurately synced to our CRM platform
- Assist in developing digital content, including email copy, website copy, fundraising appeals, social media posts, and promotional materials.
- Conduct quality assurance checks to verify links, images, and personalization fields
- Help segment email audiences and prepare campaign variations based on donor status, engagement, or other criteria.
- Coordinate campaign assets and maintain production calendars, checklists, and project documentation.
- Support the testing and development of subject lines, email content, e-actions, donation pages, and other campaign elements.
- Track and organize performance data for email, fundraising, and digital engagement campaigns.
- Design graphics and edit or transcribe videos using Canva and/or Adobe Creative Cloud
- Assist in data maintenance and digital marketing research as needed
Qualifications and Experience
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program of study specializing in digital media, communications, marketing, or other relevant major
- Interest in digital storytelling in a nonprofit setting
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Canva, and Adobe Creative Suite
- Experience with (or interest in learning) email marketing platforms and digital marketing analytics
- Superior organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to facilitate a project from start to finish
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and professionally
- Mature judgment, confidentiality, and capacity to work independently
- Not afraid to take initiative and suggest ideas
Location and Hours
- The internship will follow a hybrid work model, with some work conducted remotely and some in our office located in Midtown, Manhattan.
- We welcome applications from candidates located out of state.
- Hours can be flexible to accommodate different types of schedules.
- The internship will commence in September with at least a 12-week commitment.
How to Apply
Please apply by sending a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to resumes@phr.org. Include “Digital Campaigns Intern, Fall 2026” in the subject line. Please include in your cover letter the number of weekly hours you would be able to commit to the internship.
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Social Media and Video Intern
Location: Remote, or hybrid in New York, NY
Reports to: Deputy Director of Digital Communications and Development
Internship Description
The Digital Communications – Social Media and Video Internship is ideal for a student seeking hands-on experience managing social media for a fast-paced nonprofit advocacy organization. The intern will play an integral role on PHR’s digital communications team, helping to shape PHR’s graphic video storytelling across X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube with an emphasis on video content creation, platform monitoring, audience engagement, and scheduling.
This internship is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about short-form video, social media, digital advocacy, and creative communication. The intern will participate in department meetings, staff meetings, and intern learning sessions, complemented by PHR-provided career mentoring.
PHR offers stipends to student interns. Details will be provided during interviews.
Duties and Responsibilities
Social Media Content and Strategy
- Create daily and weekly content for PHR’s social channels (X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and YouTube)
- Draft and schedule posts using PHR’s social media content calendar
- Draft rapid-response content, including posts and replies to key audiences, supporters, and partner organizations
- Assist in shaping PHR’s social media voice and messaging around major campaigns and human rights emergencies
Graphics and Video Production
- Design social graphics, carousels, and simple animations using Canva (experience required)
- Edit short-form videos for Instagram Reels, YouTube, and other platforms using Canva or basic editing tools
- Support accessibility by adding subtitles or transcripts to videos
- Help record and prepare short video clips from staff, partners, or experts
Monitoring and Engagement
- Monitor daily activity on PHR’s social platforms, flagging trends, mentions, breaking news, and engagement opportunities
- Track trending hashtags, human rights stories, and platform best practices
- Assist with responding to comments and community engagement, following PHR guidelines.
Digital Organization and Reporting
- Help maintain and organize PHR’s digital asset libraries (graphics, b-roll, archival footage, templates)
- Track analytics across platforms and help prepare performance reports
- Coordinate with the digital team to support email, website, and campaign needs as relevant
Qualifications and Experience
Required
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program in communications, digital media, marketing, journalism, video production, or a related field
- Experience in video editing and graphic design
- Strong interest in social media marketing and digital storytelling
- Experience using major social media platforms, especially X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube
- Experience using Canva, including graphic design basics and simple video editing
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage projects from start to finish
- Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse, international team
- Mature judgment, discretion, and the ability to work independently
Preferred
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator)
- Experience with content scheduling tools like Sprout is a plus
- Comfort drafting scripts or storyboards for short digital videos
Location and Hours
- Remote or hybrid in New York, with some in-office time in Midtown Manhattan for hybrid interns
- Applications from candidates located out of state are welcome
- Hours are flexible to accommodate academic schedules
- Internship begins in September with a minimum 15 hours per week commitment
How to Apply
Please apply by sending a cover letter, resume, and a portfolio or sample of video social media clips that you have created to resumes@phr.org include “Digital Communications – Social Media and Video Intern, Fall 2026” in the subject line. In your cover letter, note the number of weekly hours you can commit.
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Capacity Development, Research Methods, and MEL Intern (Arabic-Speaking)
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.
Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks for interns to join PHR’s Capacity Development, Research Methods, and MEL Team.
Location: New York, New York (hybrid) or remote
Reports to: Deputy Director, Capacity Development
Internship Description
This internship is ideal for a student interested in a career in international law or public health. The internship will provide an opportunity for students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in the intersection of human rights, research, capacity development, and program evaluation. Interns will contribute to the development and implementation of research and M&E strategies, as well as participate in critical data collection and analysis efforts that support PHR’s mission of advancing human rights and health care access globally.
The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in human rights, research methodology, and the evaluation of programmatic impact. They will have the opportunity to work alongside a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are deeply committed to advancing social justice and public health issues. This internship will offer exposure to the workings of a dynamic human rights organization and provide the intern with a comprehensive understanding of how M&E and research are integral to the success of global health and advocacy programs.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Capacity Development
- Assist in creating and formatting training materials and resources to build capacity within PHR’s team and local partners.
- Help evaluate the effectiveness of capacity development programs through surveys and feedback tools.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Assist in the design and implementation of MEL frameworks for ongoing and upcoming PHR projects.
- Contribute to the development of indicators, tools, and mechanisms for assessing project outcomes and impacts.
- Support in preparing M&E-related documentation, including evaluation reports and data summaries.
Tools and Resources Generation
- Support the compilation of a repository of relevant resources for trainees, ensuring easy access and up-to-date information.
- Support with designing new tools to enhance learning experiences and improve training efficiency.
- Collaborate with different teams to gather and incorporate feedback into resource development.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of tools and resources, making improvements as needed to meet trainee needs.
Qualifications and Experience
- Fluency in Arabic required
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program; course of study in international development/relations, public policy, law, human rights, or related field preferred, but not required
- Strong interest in and commitment to human rights
- Ability to maintain confidentiality while working with sensitive human rights data is a must
- Excellent communications skills
- Resourceful in performing research on the internet and through other channels
- Well organized, detail-oriented, and able to exercise discretion
Location and Hours
- The internship will follow a hybrid work model, with some work conducted remotely and some in our office located in Midtown, Manhattan for applicants based in NYC.
- We welcome applications from candidates located out of state.
- Hours can be flexible to accommodate different types of schedules.
- The internship will commence in September with at least a 12-week commitment.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume, to resumes@phr.org. Include “Capacity Development Intern, Fall 2026” in the subject line. Please include in your cover letter the number of weekly hours you would be able to commit to the internship.
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Advocacy Intern
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.
Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks an Advocacy and Policy Intern.
Location: New York, New York (hybrid) or Washington D.C. (remote)
Reports to: Advocacy and Operations Coordinator
Internship Description
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is looking for a capable and enthusiastic intern wishing to gain direct experience in developing and implementing human rights advocacy campaigns and policy strategies. The advocacy intern will work closely with the PHR advocacy team in developing advocacy strategies, attending advocacy meetings, and monitoring current NGO partner and policymaker actions.
This internship is ideal for a student interested in a career in human rights or humanitarian advocacy or policy. You will be given exposure to a variety of PHR’s international and domestic advocacy and policy efforts on issues such as human rights in armed conflict, medical neutrality, international anti-torture initiatives, international justice, refugee and asylum protection, use of excessive force, and COVID-19 related advocacy.
The advocacy intern will attend departmental and staff meetings, as well as regular learning and social events with other interns and staff from PHR to round out the learning experience and complement PHR-provided career mentoring.
PHR offers stipends to student interns. The specific stipend amount will be determined by the average number of hours worked by the intern per week. Details will be further provided during the interview process.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Undertaking advocacy and policy research and analysis with a view to assisting with the development of advocacy and campaigns strategies
- Monitoring relevant current events and advocacy opportunities at the global level and domestic level for internal discussion with PHR staff
- Assisting with the development of research, policy papers, blog posts, briefing materials, press releases, and internal memos regarding PHR’s research, investigations, and advocacy initiatives.
- Contributing to the development of strategic partnerships to promote PHR’s advocacy priorities.
- Assisting with general program and administrative work, including meeting preparations, background research, data entry, and internal reporting.
- Managing internal databases of contacts and assisting with regular outreach to key stakeholders at the national and international level.
- Assisting with promotion of advocacy events held for other NGOs and/or diplomatic missions.
Qualifications and Experience
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program of study required; previous coursework in international development/relations, public policy, human rights, or related field preferred but not required.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills required, including excellent editing skills.
- Excellent research and analytical skills required.
- Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with PHR staff and external partners
- Demonstrated interest in and commitment to human rights
- Mature judgment, strong integrity, and ability to maintain strict confidentiality required.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through
- Previous experiences with policy or advocacy, through coursework, volunteer, or professional experience at local, national, or international level strongly desirable.
- Comfort with spreadsheets and database tools a plus
Location and Hours
- The internship will follow a hybrid work model, with some work conducted remotely and some in our office located in Midtown, Manhattan.
- We welcome applications from candidates located out of state. Candidates based in the Washington, DC area strongly encouraged to apply.
- Hours can be flexible to accommodate different types of schedules.
- The internship will commence in September with at least a 12-week commitment.
How to Apply
Please apply through our application form. You’ll be asked to upload your resume and cover letter as part of the application. Please note, we will accept applications until 11:59 PM ET Monday, August 24, 2026.
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Research Intern
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.
Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks interns to join PHR’s Research, Legal and Advocacy (RLA) team.
Location: New York, New York (hybrid) or remote
Reports to: Deputy Director of Research
Internship Description
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is looking for a motivated and detail-oriented intern to support the Research, Legal, and Advocacy (RLA) team’s research portfolio. The research intern will work closely with RLA staff on background research, literature review, and monitoring of current developments across PHR’s core human rights issues, including crowd control weapons, attacks on healthcare in conflict, and conflict-related sexual violence. The intern will also support research on the human rights impact of foreign assistance and aid cuts on health systems, and will help monitor international human rights mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Council and relevant treaty bodies, where PHR’s research and documentation inform advocacy.
This internship is ideal for a student interested in a career in human rights research, international law, or public health, who wants hands-on experience supporting report research, drafting, and international advocacy tracking at a leading human rights organization.
PHR offers stipends to student interns. The specific stipend amount will be determined by the average number of hours worked by the intern per week. Details will be further provided during the interview process.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct background research and literature reviews on human rights topics relevant to RLA’s work, including crowd control weapons, attacks on healthcare in conflict, conflict-related sexual violence, and the human rights impact of foreign assistance and aid cuts
- Monitor current events and developments at relevant international human rights mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Council and treaty bodies, flagging opportunities for PHR engagement
- Assist with drafting research summaries, briefing materials, and internal memos to support RLA’s reports and advocacy strategy
- Support fact-checking and citation review for PHR publications
- Help compile and organize research materials and sources for ongoing investigations
- Attend the weekly RLA huddle and contribute research updates as relevant
- Assist with additional research and administrative tasks as needed to support RLA’s work
Qualifications and Experience
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program required; coursework in international relations, human rights, law, public health, or a related field preferred
- Strong research and analytical skills required
- Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information clearly
- Demonstrated interest in and commitment to human rights
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with RLA staff
- Prior research experience (e.g., thesis work, research assistantship) strongly desirable
- Comfort with spreadsheets and database tools a plus
- Foreign language skills a plus (Ukrainian, French or Arabic preferred), though not required
Location and Hours
- The internship will follow a hybrid work model, with some work conducted remotely and some in our office located in Midtown, Manhattan for applicants based in NYC.
- We welcome applications from candidates located out of state. Candidates based in the Washington, DC area strongly encouraged to apply.
- Hours can be flexible to accommodate different types of schedules.
- The internship will commence in September with at least a 12-week commitment.
How to Apply
Please apply through our application form. You’ll be asked to upload your resume and cover letter as part of the application. Please note, we will accept applications until 11:59 PM ET Monday, August 24, 2026.
Human Resources Intern
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.
Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks a Human Resources Intern.
Location: New York, New York (hybrid)
Reports to: Director of Human Resources
Internship Description
The human resources and operations internship is ideal for a student interested in a career in global human resources or nonprofit management and operations. This intern will gain direct experience in developing and implementing key policies and administrative strategies for a growing, international nonprofit organization.
The human resources and operations intern will collaborate with staff from various departments to gain a fuller understanding of the behind-the-scenes running of a nonprofit organization. The intern will also have the opportunity to attend regular learning and social events with other interns and staff from PHR to round out the learning experience and complement PHR-provided career mentoring.
PHR offers stipends to student interns. The specific stipend amount will be determined by the average number of hours worked by the intern per week. Details will be further provided during the interview process.
Duties and Responsibilities
Human Resources
- Assist with PHR’s employee recruitment, onboarding, and selection processes.
- Research current labor and employment laws in the United States and overseas.
- Maintain, audit, and update human resources files and records.
- Research human resources best practices.
- Assist the Director of HR in ad-hoc HR projects
Operations (including exposure to IT/Office Admin)
- Contribute to projects for and requests from PHR staff.
- Collaborate with staff on technology initiatives.
- Communicate with vendors, contractors, and consultants.
- Provide support for office management for general operations, including office inventory.
Qualifications and Experience
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program of study; specialization in human resources, business administration, or a related field preferred
- General knowledge of and interest in human resources concepts and terminology
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills
- Resourceful in performing research on the internet and through other channels
- Well organized, detail-oriented, and able to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion
Location and Hours
- The internship will follow a hybrid work model, with some work conducted remotely and some in our office located in Midtown, Manhattan.
- We welcome applications from candidates located out of state.
- Hours can be flexible to accommodate different types of schedules.
- The internship will commence in September with at least a 12-week commitment.
How to Apply
Please email a cover letter and resume to resumes@phr.org. Include “Human Resources Intern, Fall 2026” in the subject line. Please include in your cover letter the number of weekly hours you would be able to commit to the internship.