At this time, there are no active employment opportunities available. Please check back periodically for future updates.

Our fellowship programs provide funding for CUNY faculty and students to spend one or two semesters at the Institute, during which senior faculty will assist them in developing research projects and proposals, or they can contribute to existing work of Institute faculty and staff.

Doctoral Student Fellowship Program

Our Doctoral Student Fellowship Program launched in Fall 2016. Students are invited to apply to receive a stipend to participate in Institute research projects or to develop a dissertation research project of their own, with the support of Institute faculty and staff.

We welcome graduate students who wish to pursue fieldwork placements, capstone projects, Masters essays, or dissertation projects in food policy or food justice. Our institute can provide a home for food policy research conducted by CUNY students as well as students from institutions across the city and the world. Stipends are often available.

If you would like to learn more about conducting research with us, write to us at urbanfoodpolicy@sph.cuny.edu.

Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026

The CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, housed within the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, is seeking student interns for Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026. We work to advance equitable and sustainable food policies in urban areas, connecting food policy practice to health, racial equity, community resilience, and fair labor practices.

Internship Details

• Apply by: March 11, 2026
• Decision Notifications: April 1, 2026
• Application Link: Internship Application Form
• Contact for Questions: craig.willingham@sph.cuny.edu

Letter of Interest (LOI) Guidelines

Submit a 500-word LOI that includes:

• Why you’re interested in interning with the Institute?
• Which topic area you’re applying under and why it interests you?
• How the internship supports your academic or professional goals?
• If applicable, what specific methods or skills you hope to further develop or build during your internship?

Upload your LOI and resume using the application form.

Internship Research Areas

Interns work within one primary research area that aligns with their interests and the Institute’s mission. Choose one of the topic areas below or propose your own topic that fits our focus on food policy, equity, and public health.

• Food Equity Data and Dashboards: Analysis of food policy trends and regional planning across government levels.
• Food Labor & Workforce Development: Research on food worker wages, conditions, and training pathways.
• Food Security: Focus on campus hunger, and community food access.
• Food Advocacy: Study participatory approaches to food system planning and policy.
• Food Policy Communications: Develop and distribute content via forums, articles, and social media.
• Food Program Evaluation: Assess program impact and implementation effectiveness.
• Other: Propose your own topic aligned with the Institute’s mission.

We review each application based on how clearly and directly your interest align with our internship opportunities. We look for a strong match between your chosen topic and the Institute’s mission to improve food equity and public health. We also consider your knowledge of the topic, any experience you have (including school, work, or community service), and how this internship fits into your goals. We also look to match relevant skills or experience to our existing projects. Furthermore, we consider whether your schedule allows you to fully take part in the internship. We value both formal experience and lived or community-based knowledge.