Opportunities for field research in rural Mexico, Guatemala

The Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies is accepting applications for six summer field research internships through March 3.

The trips are fully funded opportunities for rising juniors, seniors and co-terms with a minimum GPA of 3.3 to work closely with faculty while completing field research in rural Guatemala and Mexico.

Four spots are open for the Guatemala internships, where students will focus on global health, governance, underdevelopment and indigenous rights in the Lake Atitlan region. FSI senior fellows Paul Wise and Beatriz Magaloni will lead the trip in June. Wise is a professor of pediatrics at Stanford Medical School, and Magaloni is an associate professor of political science.

Two students will be chosen to travel to Chiapas with Magaloni and Alberto Diaz-Cayeros, also a senior fellow at FSI. The Mexico internship will focus on governance, rule of law, indigenous autocracy and public goods from June 21 to July 13.

Competitive candidates will have previous experience in service learning, poverty alleviation, or a similar pursuit, and will have Spanish language skills. The selection committee seeks applicants with diverse academic backgrounds from applied, natural and social sciences in order to assemble an interdisciplinary research team.

The program will cover roundtrip airfare between San Francisco International Airport and the international location, lodging, meals, insurance, visas, and incidentals for work abroad, plus provide a budget for the team's research materials and supplies. At Stanford, the team will be furnished with work space in Encina Hall to meet, prepare, and complete their final project.

An information session with past interns will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 14.