Below is a list of all current opportunities. Those interested in other areas IIHS is engaged with are also encouraged to apply. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis:
School of Environment and Sustainability (SES) – Bioinformatic Analysis of Soil
This internship will focus on the characterization of fungal community structures in regenerative versus conventional agriculture and barren soil, through analysis of fungal metagenomics data. The work will involve: bioinformatic analysis of soil fungal metagenomics datasets to identify the fungal communities found in regenerative agriculture plots versus those in conventional agriculture plots; determining the species of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) populations present in the tomato/ bean and ragi regenerative agriculture plots; statistical comparisons of obtained datasets to assess their significance. This work may lead to a peer-reviewed publication, with the applicant as a significant author.
Applicants should have a Master’s/ Ph.D. degree in a relevant discipline such as Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Genetics, etc. The applicant should have an aptitude for bioinformatics, soil microbiome, and literature survey. They must be proficient in MS Office; have strong analytical skills; be well-organized and detail-oriented; and possess the ability to take initiative and work in a team. The internship will be based in Bengaluru.
Geospatial Lab – GIS (Data Creation)
The Geospatial Lab provides spatial analysis and data visualization support to the research and practice projects at IIHS. The intern will assist the team in data creation and maintenance of GIS data resources. Specifically, the internship will involve: digitising/ importing/ converting spatial data from a variety of sources; reviewing the spatial accuracy of the data sets; creating metadata in the prescribed format; and restructuring and organizing the data resources. The intern will also contribute to ongoing projects and capacity-building programs whenever required.
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree (any discipline) and must have completed a certificate course in GIS operations. They need to be familiar with data creation and georeferencing using QGIS or ArcGIS software. The internship will be based in Bengaluru.
Practice (Public/Municipal Finance)
The intern will assist in the ongoing research on municipal finance at IIHS. This includes contributing to annual publications on municipal finance as well as working on state budgets. Key responsibilities include supporting data collection, analysis, presentation, and reporting. The role will build a strong foundation for engaging with public finance data and understanding municipal finances.
Minimum eligibility will be a bachelor’s degree in economics/finance/management. Those from other academic backgrounds with a keen interest in public/ municipal finance will also be considered. The internship requires sound knowledge of MS Office, particularly Excel, Powerpoint, and Word, good data mining and analytical skills, and proficiency in English and any other Indian language. The internship will be based in Bengaluru and will not be remote.
This internship will involve assisting Library operations, mainly user and research services, instruction and outreach, acquisition, and technical processing of the learning resources being acquired for the IIHS Library. Coordinating with the Library team at the IIHS Bengaluru City Campus, this position requires a working knowledge of Machine-Readable Cataloging (MARC) standard, Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), and exposure to open source or proprietary integrated library systems (preferably Koha and Digital Library Solutions, though not mandatory).
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Library and Information Science is mandatory. Some work experience (1-2 years) will be preferred.
This position will be based in Chennai. The intern will be required to travel to Bengaluru to train with the IIHS Library team for two weeks.
Media Lab
Internship #1
Filming, Editing and Archiving – The intern will work with the Media Lab team on assorted film projects as needed, and will be involved in a range of activities including filming, editing, and archiving. The intern will: understand the brief provided by the client; plan and schedule filming based on the brief; set up the studio/location for filming; assist with production-related tasks including setting up lighting, cameras and teleprompters, microphones, etc.; edit content using Adobe Suite; and archive data (video, photos, etc.) at the Media Lab.
The internship will provide on-the-job training, mentorship and networking opportunities. The ideal intern should have at least a three-year degree in film and media studies or a related field, and should be adept at video shooting, editing, and working with different formats such as FCP / Adobe Suite. They should be a strong team player, able to work effectively in a dynamic environment with diverse teams across IIHS and have good interpersonal skills. Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential; and the candidate should be proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative when needed.
Internship #2
Media Asset Management (MAM) – The intern will assist in implementing and improving the data management process at the institution. Specifically, the intern will be responsible for ensuring that data assets are properly tagged according to protocols set by the institution. The role will involve learning how to assess, tag, administer, and maintain data assets for the Media Lab and other IIHS partners. The intern will learn about and contribute to the Media Lab’s knowledge management infrastructure. They will also learn how to operate the MAM software, understand the taxonomy, tagging framework, rules and guidelines, compliance requirements, and how to deal with different user groups. Key responsibilities will include: tagging media holdings and documents in various formats; indexing, searching, data and intellectual property protection, process compliance, and similar functions as required for an educational institution; contributing to the delivery of all aspects of the Media Lab’s MAM infrastructure and services, including archiving, indexing, searching, and maintaining digital assets, both old and new, in accordance with MAM operating guidelines; actively participating in the Media Lab and KM teams, providing feedback on day-to-day activities and offering recommendations for improvement.
The internship will provide on-the-job training, mentorship and networking opportunities. The ideal intern should have at least a three-year degree in film and media studies or a related field. They should have knowledge or hands-on experience with operating, managing, and supporting media asset management, digital asset management, and similar solutions. In addition, the candidate should be familiar with current tagging trends and taxonomy. Candidates should be excellent at process compliance and have a keen eye for detail. Strong verbal and written communication skills are a must, as the role requires effective communication at all levels of the institution, including with senior leadership. In addition, the candidate should be an effective team player with good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a dynamic environment involving diverse teams across IIHS.
Legal & Regulation
The intern will assist the Legal & Regulation team at IIHS on tasks such as research and drafting in relation to institutional contracts, legal opinions and compliance matters. The intern will also be responsible for providing legal support and assistance on various kinds of legal work, including IPR and relevant matters.
An ideal candidate will be someone who is committed, willing to learn, and able to work both independently and as part of a team. They will possess outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, and demonstrate a willingness to learn while carrying out a variety of activities as needed.
Practice (Land and Real estate)
This internship will cover various aspects of urban and peri-urban land registration systems, real estate, and real estate regulation. The intern will participate in data collection and analysis on the: status of the real estate sector in various states, including the functioning of real estate regulatory authorities, based on primary and secondary data sources; participate in documenting best practices in real estate regulation at the state level; evaluate RERA websites in terms of accessibility and availability of information; gain an understanding of urban and peri-urban land record systems in various Indian states, and assess best practices adopted by different states.
A Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (such as Planning, Law, Public Policy, Architecture, Geography, or Economics), with advanced-level proficiency in MS Excel, is essential for this position. Applicants need to have strong analytical skills; and must be well organized, detail-oriented and possess the ability to take initiative and work in a team. The internship is based in Delhi or Bengaluru.
Academics & Research (Climate and Health)
The School of Human Development (SHD) and the School of Environment and Sustainability (SES) at IIHS are collaboratively working on a Scoping Literature Review on the intersections of Climate and Health to understand the actors and practices and perspectives in the global south (focusing on the Indian context).
The intern will systematically review existing peer-reviewed scholarship in the overlapping areas of climate science and health to examine: What are the key climate change impacts and risks for health (mapping the landscape of the literature); What are the different solutions around health systems under a changing climate (mapping the literature and stakeholder landscape in India).
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s / Master’s in Public Health, Developmental Studies, Public Policy, Geography or similar disciplines. The internship will be based in Bengaluru and will not be remote. Good communication and analytical skills are a must. Skills in MS Excel and Reference Manager/Mendeley, as well as proficiency in written English, will be an advantage.
Media Lab – TNUSSP (Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme) & CWIS ( City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation)
The objective of the Media Lab (TNUSSP & CWIS) is to showcase the work of the programme, while also helping raise the profile of urban sanitation on the whole by creating engaging and interesting content. The intern should be able to contribute to this objective.
This internship will involve supporting the Media Lab on the TNUSSP and CWIS projects. It includes, but is not limited to: Editing content using Adobe Premiere Pro software; Subtitling of videos; Production and production-related activities of various film projects as needed; Liaison with other teams and functions for various projects; Archiving of assets at the Media Lab.
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s / Master’s in journalism, Fine Arts, Visual Communication, Film making or allied disciplines. The internship will be based in Chennai and will not be remote. Skills like photography and videography as well as proficiency in photo/video editing softwares (Adobe suite) will be preferred. Good communication skills and storytelling ability are a must.
Word Lab
The intern will: Help in writing case studies on solid waste management projects; Prepare documentation plans with timelines; Write and submit reports/case studies and other outputs; Structure and edit a range of written material; Anchor the production of documents with the project team and the IIHS Word Lab.
A degree in the social sciences or humanities will be preferred, and good writing skills are a must.
Communications & Design
Design Intern: The Intern will help with daily graphic design tasks, formatting, page layouts and typesetting. Minimum eligibility will be a bachelor’s degree. The Intern must have a good eye for design, be current in their understanding of design trends and tools, and proactive.
Social Media Intern: The Intern will be involved in monitoring IIHS’ social media handles on an everyday basis. The Intern will also help with social media postings, both from an ideation perspective as well as execution. A proactive attitude to look at other, similar organisations and institutions will be appreciated. Minimum eligibility will be a bachelor’s degree. Content writing skills and familiarity with the use of social media tools are a must. Design experience or a desire to learn design tools will be an added advantage.
Intern for Content Writing: The Intern will help with collating information for institutional newsletters and assist with other content writing requirements including writing for social media posts. The Intern must have an eye for detail and the ability to coordinate with multiple teams. Minimum eligibility will be a bachelor’s degree. Previous experience with writing in any form, across any platform is a must.
Intern for Website/Wordpress: The Intern will help with updating the existing digital assets including the IIHS website and other microsites. Previous experience with working on WordPress is a must. Understanding of and/or experience with back-end development is an added plus.
Communications – TNUSSP (Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme)
This internship will involve supporting project communications on the TNUSSP and City Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) projects. It includes, but is not limited to assisting in the development of communications calendar and execution of the project communication plan, content development and editing assistance across all communication material. It also includes providing support to all media related activities including building and maintaining all such relationships, documenting and archiving all project communication output. The intern is also expected to proactively support updating and monitoring of social media and other academic profiles.
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s / Master’s in journalism, media, development studies, public policy or any related disciplines. The internship will be based in Chennai.
Practice – TNUSSP (Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme)
This internship is with the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP). The candidate will primarily work with the governance team on a range of themes including implementation of governance mechanisms, sanitation planning, water-sanitation policy analysis, etc. The intern is also expected to support other work areas of the Programme as required.
The internship will involve undertaking secondary research (may need to be supported with field visits and/or telephonic interviews) and providing support in data collection and interpretation (including map generation) and developing and updating reports (including writing excerpts and coordinating with team members to collate information from government officers). Additionally, they may need to accompany TNUSSP team members on select field visits to collect and collate information. To know more about TNUSSP, visit: https://muzhusugadharam.co.in/
The ideal candidate will have a background in research, data analysis and be related to the planning/ development sector through either education or experience. They must be familiar with MS-Office and be fairly proficient in English writing and presentation skills. Knowledge of Arc-GIS/ Q-GIS and Tamil language will be an advantage.
Candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree (including final year students) in public policy, governance, development studies, urban/ environmental planning and other related fields may apply. The position is available at the earliest. The intern will need to be physically present in Chennai during the internship period.
Position #1:
Intern for Developing Capacity Building Framework
This position is for a project aimed at the planning and implementation of Transit Oriented Development in Bangalore. For this, the intern will collaborate with members of the Urban Practitioners’ Programme at IIHS, assisting in the literature review, stakeholder interviews (in-person and online) and development of training materials such as SOPs and Manuals.
The ideal candidate will have the skills to review and compile research in disciplines of urban planning, public policy or transportation planning. A basic understanding of Bengaluru’s urban development is desirable. Some familiarity with design tools for graphic production and presentation skills will be very useful to have.
Minimum eligibility will be a Bachelor’s degree. Candidates from diverse backgrounds with overlapping interests in transportation planning and urban development are encouraged to apply. The position is available at the earliest. We expect a commitment of at least 3 months and the intern will need to be physically present in Bangalore during this period. Excellent writing skills in English and a working knowledge of Kannada will be an advantage.
Position #2:
Intern for Analysing Governance Structures and Institutional Capacities
This position is for a project aimed at the planning and implementation of Transit Oriented Development in Bangalore. The intern will collaborate with members of the Urban Practitioners’ Programme at IIHS and external experts, assisting in an extensive review of public documents, and rendering support in process mapping and documentation.
The ideal candidate will have the skills to review public documents such as annual reports, circulars, and legislations, summarise results with attention to detail and be willing to do fieldwork (subject to the on-ground pandemic situation). A basic understanding of a metropolitan city’s governance and institutional framework is desirable. Some familiarity with design tools for graphic production and presentation skills will be very useful to have.
Candidates with a Master’s degree in public policy, governance, development studies, urban planning and other related fields may apply. The position is available at the earliest. We expect a commitment of at least 3 months and the intern will need to be physically present in Bangalore during this period. Excellent writing skills in English and a working knowledge of Kannada will be an advantage.
Urban Practitioners’ Programme (Jal Jeevan Mission capacity building programmes)
The intern will assist in: Preparing course modules and material; The delivery of training programmes, collecting feedback, follow up, and preparation of completion reports; Preparing forms and formats pertaining to the JJM (Jal Jeevan Mission) capacity building programmes and other related work; Tracking attendance of participants attending the programme; Developing an end-user feedback process on project implementation from participants; The creation and dissemination of knowledge products; Preparing documentation plans with timelines: writing and submitting reports/case studies / and other material.
A Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Environment Science, Infrastructure or related field, with Intermediate Level Proficiency on MS Office skills is essential for this position. Applicants need to have strong communication skills, both written and spoken; and must be well organized, detailed-oriented and good at team working.
These are paid internships located in Bangalore. Some internships may be available in Delhi.
