Students

Students

Gain real-world experience, join the team! 

As a teaching, training, and experiential learning lab for community-facing research, engaging students at Rutgers-Camden is at the very foundation of WRI’s work. WRI works directly with students on research projects, supports the research interests of students through scholarships and fellowships, and provides exciting opportunities for students to produce impactful written materials for public audiences across the region and State.  

Undergraduate Paid Summer Internship Opportunity

For summer 2025, WRI is offering a summer internship opportunity for a rising junior or senior currently enrolled at Rutgers University-Camden. This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about community-facing research in Camden City and Southern New Jersey. During their time at WRI, the WRI summer intern will work to research if a repository or clearinghouse of qualitative data for US Census data or other national-level data that supports public policy and practice in areas that WRI researches exists, work to assist in gathering information about WRI’s alums and where they are now, and complete other research-related tasks as appropriate.

The WRI summer intern will be under the mentorship and supervision of the Walter Rand Institute Director and have the opportunity to engage with other WRI staff and student staff.

Applications are due on Friday, March 14, 2025.  


Student Staff Positions 

Students who join WRI research teams learn about community-facing research and have the opportunity to support the development of data collection instruments, engage in data collection across the State and in the South Jersey community, and support written and oral research project deliverables.  

WRI Public Engagement Writing Seminar

In its pilot year, the WRI Public Engagement Writing Seminar is a program that teaches and trains students in community-facing research and translating research for public audiences. The program consists of five sessions, each focusing on a different content area when it comes to conducting community-facing research in and for South Jersey and disseminating the research to different stakeholder groups such as legislators and community partners.

Endowed Graduate Scholarship for Southern New Jersey Initiatives 

In an effort to produce more original research about Southern New Jersey while enhancing the education and professional experiences of Rutgers University-Camden students, the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs created the endowed Graduate Scholarship for Southern New Jersey Initiatives. Open to any Rutgers-Camden graduate student in good standing, this scholarship supports students as they conduct research centered on the Southern New Jersey region. Each year, WRI and members of the WRI Advisory Board will select a Graduate Scholar who demonstrates growing interest and expertise in research relevant to the region.  

Senator Walter Rand Institute Research Scholarships 

In 2023, WRI launched brand-new Senator Walter Rand Institute Research Scholarships that will support students in building upon their research skills and realizing their commitment to amplifying research questions in Southern New Jersey.  

Scholarship Recipients

Endowed Graduate Scholarship for Southern New Jersey Initiatives

2024 – Samantha Vega
Project Title: Climate Change in Camden and Health Outcomes

2023 – Yachun “Lucy” Wen
Project Title: Assessing the Impact of 2020 New Jersey Medicaid Expansion of Autism Benefits on Child Early Identification Likelihood

Senator Walter Rand Institute Research Scholarships

2024-2025 – Morenike “Reni” Alugo
Project Title: The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors and Social Capital on Substance Abuse and Healthcare Utilization in South Jersey

2024-2025 – Chengcheng “Zach” Yue
Project Title: Understanding of the Impact of COVID-19-induced inflation on Gloucester County’s Public Finances and Household Financial Health

2024 – Morenike “Reni” Alugo and Chengcheng “Zach” Yue
Project Title: Trend Analysis for US Census Data for Southern New Jersey Counties

Contact Kristin Curtis, Associate Director of Research (krcurtis@camden.rutgers.edu), to learn more about openings for any of the opportunities above.