DHRC Student-Initiated Summer Internship Fellowship (U-M)

Deadline: March 22, 2021

 

 

The Donia Human Rights Center is initiating a pilot program to offer a rising LSA undergraduate junior or senior a fellowship to work with (or at) an international human rights institution or organization identified by the student. The fellowship seeks to support a student with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in human rights.

The successful applicant is expected to spend eight weeks, between May and August 2021, working virtually (or, if possible, in person) with an international human rights institution or organization. To qualify for the fellowship, the placement must be with a government, a non-governmental organization (NGO), an international organization, or a research institution that works on issues of international human rights.  The placement can be located within the United States or abroad. The following are not eligible placements: (a) an organization that works primarily on issues of domestic law or policy without some focus on international human rights; (b) any program for academic credit; (c) research for a faculty member at a university.

Students must provide a letter of invitation from the proposed host organization that will set out in detail the work that the student will perform. 

The fellowship provides a stipend of up to $5,000 to defray the costs of living for eight weeks. Applications will be reviewed by a committee from DHRC. If COVID-19 restrictions and conditions permit travel to the relevant placement, the fellowship will provide an additional $1,000 to reimburse travel expenses.

Upon completion of this virtual internship, fellows are expected to deliver a presentation of their internship projects and experiences and submit a written reflection to DHRC.

Application Deadline: March 22, 2021

Notification: April 5, 2021 (approx.)

Eligibility Requirements

This fellowship is open to LSA undergraduates in the class of 2022 or 2023. Students can apply from any department in LSA. It is not open to graduating seniors (i.e., students graduating in WN21 or SP/SU21). Students must return to campus for at least one semester after completing this internship.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit the following:

1. A proposal: The 2-3 page single-spaced proposal should include a complete description of the student's proposed internship. The proposal should include a detailed description of the organization and the nature of the work the student will be performing; the dates of the proposed internship; any relevant experience; relevant language skills; proposed itemized budget; and other relevant information. It should be sufficiently detailed to permit the selection committee to evaluate the quality and feasibility of the proposed project or program. Students do not need to have a track record of experience to be considered.  

Please note: If you are planning an in-person internship experience, please submit two itemized budgets: one for an in-person experience and one for a virtual experience. If the in-person internship is not possible, the fellowship will provide funding for your virtual experience. As noted, the maximum amount awarded will be $5000. 

2. Letter of invitation from the proposed placement. The student must submit a letter from the organization, and ideally from the student’s proposed supervisor, regarding the substantive work or projects. Students will not be funded to perform administrative or clerical work for the organization.

3. Resume or CV

4. Unofficial or official U-M transcript

5. At least one letter from a U-M Instructor

6. Identify other funding sources. Applicants must identify all other funding sources they have applied to and received funding from. If this does not apply to the applicant, the applicant must explicitly state that they have not applied for other funding. During the application review process and leading up to the experience, fellowship recipients who receive additional funding towards their internship or research must inform our office immediately. 

7. Submit application. Please email all the requested application materials in a single PDF file to dhrc-fellowships@umich.edu by the March 22, 2021 deadline.

Contact Information: dhrc-fellowships@umich.edu