Duke-Margolis Summer Experience Internship Program

**Applications open on Handshake now - until Feb 9th, 2026**

Program Overview 

The Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy is committed to improving health, health equity, and the value of health care through practical, innovative, and evidence-based policy solutions. As part of this mission, Duke-Margolis leads problem-focused, interdisciplinary health policy research, translates research and evidence into implementable policy guidance, and provides health policy education for the next generation of leaders.

The Duke-Margolis Summer Experience Program is a summer internship program that offers students opportunities to contribute to a variety of health policy projects through a collaborative and mentored summer research experience.

Internship Goals

• Learn through challenging and meaningful activities
• Link academic learning to policy and practice
• Gain professional experience within the field of health policy
• Build positive relationships with faculty and staff
• Identify, clarify, and/or confirm direction as it relates to your academic studies and future career path Develop strong networking/mentoring relationships
• Strengthen our Duke-Margolis student community
• Have fun in the process!

Program Description

The Duke-Margolis Summer Experience gives students a 10-week, in-depth exposure to health policy through mentored research opportunities aimed at improving health, health equity, and the value of health care.

Interns will support the team’s efforts to conduct rigorous analyses and communicate their findings. Individual tasks will be project-specific, but may include assignments such as literature reviews, data analyses and visualizations, and writing/editing a broad variety of work products, including project reports, policy briefs, blog posts, and article submissions for peer review. 

Program Information

This is a paragraph.

• Program Dates: May 18, 2026 - July 24, 2026
• Location: Durham, NC
• Compensation: Paid hourly, dependent on level of education. Approximately 40 hours per week. Housing is not included.

This is an in-person experience with no remote option; the day-to-day activities will be determined by the supervising mentor.

Qualification and Eligibility 

Eligibility 

• Currently enrolled students at the undergraduate, graduate/professional, and doctoral students and recent graduates (less than 3 months prior to the start of the internship). For Summer 2026, our program is only available to all Duke University students. 
• All applicants must be willing and able to physically reside in Durham, NC for the summer

Qualifications

Each mentor and project requires different skills and levels of experience. Applicants should demonstrate the skills and qualifications outlined in the individual job descriptions of the internship positions for which they choose to apply.

Skills that many mentors are looking for: 

• Strong written and oral communication skills 
• Experience with literature reviews, conducting qualitative/quantitative research
• Ability to work independently and be able to contribute towards the collaborative team
• Strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated interest in the research topic of the project

Application Instructions

Applicants will apply directly to the project descriptions posted on Handshake, and all application materials will be submitted through Handshake. Your Handshake account should be associated with your institution.

If you have issues with Handshake, reach out to margolis-summer-internship@duke.edu

You do NOT need letters of recommendations or reference forms to apply.

All applicants must submit:

• Resume/CV
• Unofficial Transcript(s), i.e.:
  • Scanned copies of paper transcripts produced by the institution 
  • Electronic transcripts produced by the institution 
• Statement of Interest

----

View and Apply to DMI Summer Experience Internships on Handshake Now!

Applications are open January 20th to February 9th, 2026.

If additional internships are posted after the 20th, we may extend the deadline for those positions. Review and confirm all details on the individual job postings on Handshake.

Questions? Email margolis-internship-program@duke.edu