Research Institute for Equitable Development (EQUIDE) at Universidad Iberoamericana (aka “Ibero”)

Program Type

International

Organization Name

Research Institute for Equitable Development (EQUIDE) at Universidad Iberoamericana (aka “Ibero”)

Internship Location

Mexico City, Mexico

Organization

EQUIDE generates rigorous empirical evidence on nationally relevant challenges at the intersection of poverty, health, and equitable development. Their mission is to produce high-quality scientific research that informs public policy, strengthens decision-making, and promotes equitable social outcomes. Research focuses on public health and nutrition, including food and water insecurity, maternal and child health, infant development, climate change, and mental health. EQUIDE emphasizes methodological rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translation of research into actionable insights.

The internships involve partnerships with the National Institute of Perinatology “Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes” (INPer), Mexico’s leading federal institution dedicated to reproductive, maternal, and perinatal health. INPer integrates clinical care, biomedical and public health research, and professional training, serving as a national center for high-risk pregnancies and complex perinatal conditions.

Position 1: Food & Water Insecurity Research

Position Overview

This internship provides students the opportunity to participate in high-impact research on food and water insecurity in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Interns contribute to ongoing research projects, strengthen the Maternal and Child Observatory (OMI), and assist in the expansion of the WISE-LAC research network.

Project Details

• Food and Water Insecurity Research:

  • Collect and analyze survey data with low-income pregnant women at INPer.

  • Contribute to a global systematic literature review on water insecurity interventions.

  • Integrate water-related indicators into Mexico’s Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI).

• Maternal and Child Observatory:

  • Update national indicators, improve visualizations, and draft policy briefs.

• WISE-LAC Research Network:

  • Share country findings, create training and educational materials, and produce communication pieces.

Intern Responsibilities

• Conduct structured interviews, manage datasets, run descriptive statistics.

• Review academic articles and summarize key findings.

• Analyze secondary datasets and create data visualizations.

• Translate research findings into policy-relevant insights.

• Participate in stakeholder meetings and gather context on relevant policies.

• Develop educational materials explaining water insecurity data.

• Draft updates and communication messages for WISE-LAC.

Qualifications

Essential Skills:

• Interest in global health, food and water insecurity, maternal and child health, and social inequities.

• Ability to interact respectfully with diverse populations.

• Functional proficiency in Spanish (intermediate or higher).

• Strong interpersonal, communication, writing, analytical, and organizational skills.

• Professionalism, teamwork, attention to confidentiality, reliability.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with qualitative research methods.

• Experience with systematic literature reviews.

• Experience in hospital/clinical settings.

• Academic background in public health, nutrition, anthropology, sociology, gender studies, or related fields.

Learning Outcomes

• Hands-on experience in research from data collection to dissemination.

• Training in qualitative methods (field observation, structured interviews, thematic analysis).

• Skills connecting empirical data to policy recommendations.

• Understanding social determinants of health in a middle-income country.

• Experience with multidisciplinary teams and community partners.

• Exposure to regional research network operations (WISE-LAC) and communication/capacity-building activities.

Nature of Internship

Research

Work Environment

Hybrid; up to 2 days a week, mornings only. Some RAs may be present.

Additional Onboarding for Selected Intern(s)

• Ethics and research compliance training (e.g., CITI) prior to arrival.

• Introductory sessions on water/food insecurity, food systems (Equide), and maternal health (INPer).

Keywords

Health Equity; Health Policy; Nutrition; Food Systems; Food and Water Insecurity; Maternal and Child Health

Position 2: Workplace-Based Breastfeeding Intervention

Position Overview

This internship focuses on implementing and evaluating a workplace-based intervention to improve breastfeeding practices, advance gender equity, and enhance maternal well-being in formal workplaces in Mexico City. Interns support qualitative research, intervention planning, coordination, and pilot implementation.

Project Details

• Conduct a global systematic review of workplace breastfeeding interventions.

• Perform semi-structured interviews with women workers, male colleagues, and managers/HR personnel.

• Co-design a multi-level, evidence-informed intervention based on national evidence and implementation science principles.

• Prepare and implement the pilot phase in selected workplaces.

• Adjust intervention based on pilot results, analyzing feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes.

Intern Responsibilities

• Assist with pilot implementation, field visits, stakeholder engagement, and on-site observation.

• Participate in team meetings with academic, government, NGO, and workplace partners.

• Refine intervention materials and strategies prior to pilot implementation.

• Support qualitative data collection and analysis.

• Draft reports, summaries, and briefs for research, policy, and institutional audiences.

• Assist with post-pilot refinement based on feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary findings.

Qualifications

Essential Skills:

• Interest in global health, maternal/child health, workplace health, gender equity, or implementation science.

• Ability to interact respectfully with diverse populations in field settings.

• Functional Spanish proficiency (intermediate or higher).

• Strong interpersonal, communication, writing, analytical, and organizational skills.

• Professionalism, attention to confidentiality, and reliability.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience implementing public health or behavioral interventions.

• Experience with qualitative research methods (fieldwork, analysis).

• Experience in community/workplace engagement.

• Academic background in public health, nutrition, anthropology, sociology, gender studies, or related fields.

Learning Outcomes

• Hands-on experience implementing a real-world global health intervention.

• Training in qualitative methods, field observation, and thematic analysis.

• Direct interaction with women workers, colleagues, and managers.

• Skills linking evidence synthesis, fieldwork, and intervention delivery.

• Understanding gender, equity, and occupational health dynamics in a middle-income country context.

Nature of Internship

Research

Work Environment

Hybrid; up to 3 days a week, mornings only. Some RAs may be present.

Additional Onboarding for Selected Intern(s)

• Ethics and research compliance training (e.g., CITI) prior to arrival.

• Introductory session on implementation expectations and communication protocols.

Keywords

Health Equity; Health Policy; Intervention Design & Implementation; Maternal & Child Health; Nutrition; Occupational Health; Behavior Change