Internships

An internship is a great opportunity for students to obtain valuable experience on research projects conducted at AIGHD, working alongside senior researchers, and collaborating partners. We also welcome other ideas for research projects that fit within our research priority areas.

 

Internships offer students the opportunity to enrich the knowledge gained in the classroom with experience and skills acquired in real-life, professional settings. It is also an opportunity to make connections and build rapport with fellow researchers and collaborators, locally and internationally.

 

Every fall, we host an “Internship Preview” to facilitate the matching of students and projects, together with partner organizations.

Should you be interested in an internship at AIGHD, please complete this online form and we will contact you if a suitable opportunity arises. Most of our internship opportunities take place during the second semester of the academic year.

 

AIGHD encourages all interested and qualified interns to apply. Successful applicants need to be present in the Amsterdam office frequently and regularly. Please note that AIGHD is unable to provide reimbursement for costs such as travel and accommodation for out-of-town applicants. Applicants are responsible for securing any necessary visas before the internships begins and AIGHD is unable to sponsor visas for internships.

  • I like what AIGHD stands for! It is quite a diverse think tank that represents the interests of many people around the world and has a vast network of incredible researchers by whom I wanted to be inspired. The first day coming to the office was one of my favorite experiences. Being in an office made me feel like "Wow! I am actually interning, not just doing research from my kitchen". It was so nice to meet all the staff, such as the kind office ladies and the IT guy that helped me set up my working desk, but also meeting other interns and finally having lunch with people in real life to exchange ideas and knowledge. I learned most from engaging with my supervisors. They taught me a lot about methodologies, concepts and theories, but also just about how to approach life and navigate frustrations. Overall, they let me be very creative and innovative and were not too strict about how to go about my research, which taught me how to approach problems from various angles. If you can intern, try to go to the office if you can and speak with other interns and researchers as much as possible. They can help you a lot and will expand your horizons! Try to find a project you are passionate about and then find your own angle to the research so that you will stay engaged with it for the entire duration of your internship.

    Anna-Lena Hasselder

  • The interdisciplinary nature of the research conducted at AIGHD attracted me to this organization. Working with AIGHD allows you to get acquainted with different fields of study. There typically are a large number of interns starting around the same time, so it is nice to have a group of people with whom you 'share' this experience and growth. Overall, it really felt quite nurturing in the sense that people are very academically minded and enthusiastic about their field of study and truly want interns to learn and ask questions. Since the internship mostly took place from home, I have learned to work independently more than ever before. I also learned not to be too hesitant to ask questions or let my supervisor know when I was struggling with something. I had very good contact with my supervisor, so I recommend that you don't hesitate to ask questions and let your supervisor know if you are struggling with something (be it academically or personally); they are there to offer guidance and support.

    Nina Tillema

  • I really liked the interdisciplinary nature of AIGHD research which was a good fit with my background and interests. In addition, a friend of mine, who did a Global Health minor of medicine at AIGHD, was very enthusiastic about the organisation. I especially liked the openness at AIGHD. This is regarding us as interns as well as towards projects and research. It seems like they have an integral approach and that is something which I find important. By interning, I have learned a lot about the organisation and its collaborators. I have learned about these organisations, the work they are doing and their relationships with AIGHD, which I found both interesting as well as valuable for my future career. My advice: Go for an internship at AIGHD!

    Eva Sluijs

  • Currently, I'm a medicine student at Vrije Universiteit. I have always been interested in global health and tropical medicine. My ultimate goal is to become a tropical doctor. Therefore, AIGHD was the perfect fit for an internship. I liked the fact that there were so many interns from different backgrounds. In addition, it was interesting to learn more about global health on a scientific level. For example, I learned a lot about epidemiology and statistics, which is something that is not offered as much while studying medicine. If you intern here, I recommend that you try to connect with the other interns and choose a subject for your thesis that you are really interested in.

    Sascha Van Breda

  • I was thrilled to be a part of AIGHD because of its diversity. I felt instantly accepted and valued for my input and opinion. I learned so much from people’s wealth of knowledge and experience. Most important experience I had was about research question formulation, the challenges in the process and the value of shared inputs. I would encourage people to apply, see for themselves where they fit within AIGHD, because there will be a place for them.

    Eeba Elkalamawi - SoNAR-Global