Asylum Case Management Intern

Asylum Case Management Intern, Spring 2025

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document human rights and humanitarian law violations and prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.

Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks an Asylum Case Management Intern.

Location: New York, New York (hybrid)

Reports to: Advocacy & Network Coordinator

Organizational Overview

Physicians for Human Rights was founded in 1986 by five physicians who were united in the belief that health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, are uniquely positioned to prevent harm and promote respect for human rights. Since its founding, PHR has built a long and distinguished record of accomplishment by conducting groundbreaking investigations and advocacy, in concert with strategic partners.

PHR’s approach includes extensive documentation of the use of illegal and inhumane weapons in armed conflicts, attacks on civilians, and the physical and psychological impacts of torture and sexual violence as a weapon of war. Other core activities include protecting the rights of those seeking asylum in the United States, the human rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, and halting attacks on medical facilities and frontline health professionals.

Internship Description

Physicians for Human Rights’ (PHR) Asylum Program seeks an intern wishing to gain direct experience in the program’s activities as well as long-term data collection and retention projects of a growing international nonprofit. The internship is ideal for someone looking for a career in immigration law, human rights, or nonprofit management.

The Asylum Program recruits and trains volunteer health professionals to provide evaluations and affidavits to asylum seekers and other immigrants who must provide documentation of torture or abuse in order to prevail in their immigration applications. More than 2,000 volunteer clinicians working with PHR have helped thousands of survivors of human rights violations gain asylum and other kinds of permanent status in the United States.

PHR offers stipends to student interns. The specific stipend amount will be determined by the average number of hours worked by the intern per week. Details will be further provided during the interview process.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Drafting de-identified case summaries to be sent to clinicians interested in conducting evaluations.
• Corresponding with physicians for contact information and availability updates, and helping to welcome new volunteers to PHR’s asylum network.
• Connecting attorneys and clinicians regarding placement of cases.
• Reviewing and coding affidavits to identify trends and potential research topics.
• Assisting with vital data-entry and auditing tasks, including brainstorming solutions on how to improve data management.
• Following up with attorneys on adjudication results of clients examined and other case-related information.
• Working closely with the asylum program team to develop and implement new systems to collect and report out the results of the program’s work.
• Assisting with the planning of forensic trainings.
• Monitoring current events and developments in immigration law and detention policy.

You will also have the opportunity to attend departmental and staff meetings, as well as regular learning and social events with other interns and staff from PHR to round out the learning experience and complement career mentoring provided by the development associate.

 Qualifications and Experience:

• Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program of study required; previous coursework in international development/relations, public policy, human rights, or related field preferred but not required
• Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with PHR staff and external partners
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to human rights
• Mature judgment, strong integrity, and ability to maintain strict confidentiality required
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through
• Previous experiences with policy or advocacy, through coursework, volunteer, or professional experience at local, national, or international level strongly desired

Location and Hours

• The internship will follow a hybrid work model, with some work conducted remotely and some in our office located in Midtown, Manhattan.
• We welcome applications from candidates located out of state.
• Hours can be flexible to accommodate different types of schedules.
• The internship will commence in February with at least a 12-week commitment.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume, to resumes@phr.org. Include “Asylum Case Management Intern Spring 2025” in the subject line. Please include in your cover letter the number of weekly hours you would be able to commit to the internship.