2025 Summer Research Intern (Undergraduate)

Job Description 

Job Title:        Research Intern (Undergraduate) 

Job Type:        Full-Time, Temporary, Non-Exempt 

Duration:        Approximately 10 weeks     

Job Location:    NYC; Hybrid, in-person 2 days per week. 

Compensation:     $20.00 per hour     

Organizational Overview: 

Pregnancy Justice advances and defends the rights of pregnant people, no matter if they give birth, experience a pregnancy loss, or have an abortion. We advance our mission in four ways: by providing criminal defense, by advocating for legal and policy change, by publishing cutting-edge research, and by equipping partners in the field with analysis, training, and narrative framing. Our efforts to defend against pregnancy criminalization and other punitive treatment are guided by the principles of reproductive justice, which are defined by SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.” 

We believe that the criminal legal system and family policing system, commonly known as the child welfare system, should never be involved in pregnancy and pregnancy-related outcomes; that all people are entitled to dignity, equality, and respect; and that the threat of pregnancy criminalization, like the criminal legal system itself, is deeply rooted in racism and targets communities of color and people who are poor. 

While Pregnancy Justice must operate within the criminal legal system and the family policing system, we also recognize that we must work to dismantle all discriminatory systems of oppression. Since its founding over 20 years ago, Pregnancy Justice has worked across disciplines including reproductive rights and justice, public health, drug policy, criminal justice reform, racial justice, and prosecutorial accountability, among others, to achieve its mission.  

For more information about Pregnancy Justice, please visit https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/ 

Job Summary 

The Pregnancy Prosecutions Tracking Study is a three-year research study seeking to document the extent and nature of pregnancy criminalization in the three years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. The study is an academic-advocacy partnership between Pregnancy Justice and legal academic scholars in Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma. Pregnancy Justice seeks an undergraduate intern for June – August 2025 to support the team’s data collection and preparation for an upcoming report. 

The Research intern reports to the Senior Research Associate with additional oversight by the Research Assistant. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Support data collection by making formal requests for case records to courts and administrative offices by email and/or phone and keeping detailed records of these requests; 
• Organize case files and prepare files for coding for quantitative analysis; 
• Conduct literature reviews on research trends, such as post-Dobbs health policy and social science literature; 
• Participate in research team meetings with all academic partners and make presentations to team as requested; 
• Act in compliance with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and maintain high standard of confidentiality. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Applicants must be an undergraduate student and be able to come to Pregnancy Justice’s offices in NYC twice/week throughout the duration of the internship; 
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail; 
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; 
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines; 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; 
• Ability to maintain the high standard of confidentiality in compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, as well as sensitivity and respect for subject matter; 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively; 
• Demonstrated interest in criminal justice or reproductive justice. 

Other Critical Competencies: 

Strategic Thinking: Applies big-picture thinking to achieve long-term outcomes, while also focusing on the details of short- to mid-term implementation. 

Decisiveness: Consistently makes decisions in a timely manner supportive of Pregnancy Justice’s mission, core values, and strategic objectives, demonstrating sound judgment. 

Collaboration: Works effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, with a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions to build alignment in support of a common goal. 

Commitment to Learning: Applies a growth mentality to their own and their team’s development.  Promotes a culture of learning by modeling inquisitiveness and an openness to viewing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and improve. 

Nimbleness: Demonstrates comfort with ambiguity, needing to be flexible and adaptable, consistently reassessing priorities to make sound decisions and take strategic risks in furtherance of our mission and priorities. 

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements: 

The work is primarily performed in an office setting and/or remotely. This is largely a sedentary position that requires the employee to sit, stand, walk, and bend, and may occasionally require moving files and other equipment. The Research Intern works full-time, typically between the office hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for pregnant people and individuals with disabilities, including in the application process. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please send an email with the subject line “Reasonable Accommodation Request” to HR@PregnancyJusticeUS.org. 

Commitment to Inclusive Hiring Practices 

Research indicates that members of marginalized communities tend to underestimate their qualifications and only apply when they meet all the criteria in a job posting. If you are excited about this opportunity but are unsure if your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application and how your talents and experience can bring value to this role. 

Pregnancy Justice is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, gender, pregnancy, national origin, height and weight, citizenship, marital or domestic partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, physical characteristics such as height and weight, or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pregnancy Justice recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce. 

Application Instructions: 

• Deadline for Applications: March 14, 2025  
• Please use this link to apply:  
• Applications submitted through email will not be considered.
• Applications submitted without cover letters will not be considered.
  
• Please refrain from follow-up emails, phone calls, or social media messages. 

Please note: Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are not able to respond to every individual and appreciate your understanding. 

Salary : $20