Understanding Migration in a Changing World: Technology, Climate, and Media

Format: On Campus
Number of Interns: 6
Duration of the Internship: 4 Weeks
Start Date: 1 July 2026
Finish Date: 28 July 2026
Application Deadline: 1 June 2026
Project Supervisor: Prof. Deniz Ş. Sert

Project Description

This intensive four-week summer research program introduces high school and undergraduate students to contemporary migration studies through three thematic tracks: Technology, Climate Change, and Media Representation. A limited group of six selected students will work on campus in close collaboration with the research team. Each thematic track will be assigned two students to ensure personalized mentoring and in-depth engagement. Participants will follow sessions of the IR 314 International Migration summer course and participate in guided workshops, seminars, and research meetings. Instead of conducting interviews with vulnerable populations, students will work with publicly available academic, policy, and media sources. This approach ensures high ethical standards without requiring formal ethics approval. Through collaborative research and production, students will transform theoretical knowledge into concrete academic and creative outputs.

Summer 2026 internship project will have three thematic tracks:

Track 1 — Technology & Migration: Governing Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (2 Students)

Focus:

• Digital borders and biometric systems
• AI in asylum and security processes
• Data governance and ethics

Outputs:

• Case study report
• Infographic
• Short policy brief

Track 2 — Climate Change and Human Mobility (2 Students)

Focus:

• Environmental displacement
• Climate vulnerability

• Disaster-related mobility

Outputs:

• Digital map
• Report

• Data narrative

Track 3 — Media & Migration: Migration in the Media (2 Students)

Focus:

• Media discourse
• Social media narratives
• Stereotypes and framing

Outputs:

• Media analysis report
• Short analytical video
• Digital exhibition material

Research Intern Responsibilities

• Attend sessions of the International Migration course
• Conduct supervised secondary research
• Read and discuss academic literature
• Analyze thematic data sources
• Prepare individual and team outputs
• Participate in weekly feedback meetings

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strong interest in global affairs, technology, or environmental issues
• Motivation for academic learning
• Willingness to read and discuss academic texts
• Basic digital skills
• Excellent command of English and Turkish

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, students will:

• Understand major global migration dynamics
• Apply basic social science research methods
• Analyze policy and media materials critically
• Produce research-based digital content
• Develop ethical research awareness
• Improve academic communication skills
• Gain early exposure to university-level research culture

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