RRI Welcomes Spring 2026 Intern Cohort and Research Agenda
- Alejandro Ramos
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLIFFSIDE PARK, NJ – January 7, 2026 — The Ramos Research Institute (RRI) is proud to announce its Spring 2026 intern cohort, a nationally diverse group of 25 undergraduate and graduate students selected from a highly competitive applicant pool. This cohort will support a robust slate of research projects examining democratic resilience, civic communication, media influence, political realignment, artificial intelligence governance, and human rights.
The Spring 2026 cohort brings together students from leading universities across the United States, representing a wide range of academic disciplines including political science, international affairs, sociology, communications, economics, psychology, and data analysis. Interns will contribute to policy-oriented research designed to translate rigorous scholarship into practical insights for policymakers, civic organizations, and the broader public.
“Our internship program is not observational,” said Alejandro J. Ramos, Executive Director of the Institute. “Interns at RRI are treated as junior researchers. They are expected to think critically, write clearly, and engage with real policy questions that affect democratic life in the United States and beyond.”
Spring 2026 Research Projects Include:
Democratic Resilience: Polarization and Foreign Influence in Contemporary Politics
A policy-focused analytical brief examining vulnerabilities in democratic systems, existing countermeasures, and actionable strategies to mitigate polarization and external interference.
Rewriting Democracy: Pro-Democracy Narratives and Civic Communication
A research initiative supporting the Community of Democracies’ Rewriting Democracy Narratives effort by analyzing how democratic values are framed and communicated across political and media contexts.
Civic Belonging: Understanding Jewish Civic Life and Antisemitism in Contemporary America
Foundational research informing a multi-year national study on antisemitism, democratic belonging, and civic identity in the United States.
The Great Realignment
A book-length project tracing Hispanic voting behavior from 1972 through the 2024 presidential, challenging monolithic narratives and examining regional, socioeconomic, and historical drivers of political change.
Media Propaganda: How the Media Shapes the Public’s Demographic Perception
An investigation into how media portrayals of demographic groups influence public opinion, policy outcomes, and civic participation.
The Trust Deficit: Economic Interdependence, Populism, and the Crisis of Democratic Legitimacy
A comparative study analyzing how economic vulnerability and global interdependence contribute to declining trust in democratic institutions.
A Broken Compass: Bias, Artificial Intelligence, and Misdirection in National Security
A critical analysis of predictive algorithms, surveillance technologies, and AI-driven intelligence practices in domestic and international security contexts.
Human Rights Protections and AI in Border Management
A comparative assessment of U.S. and EU approaches to artificial intelligence in immigration enforcement, with policy recommendations for rights-based reform.
Throughout the semester, interns will engage in structured desk research, policy synthesis, editorial workshops, and collaborative brief development. Several projects will produce publicly released policy briefs, research reports, and academic-adjacent publications.
The Spring 2026 cohort reflects RRI’s continued commitment to cultivating the next generation of policy thinkers, researchers, and civic leaders through hands-on, high-impact research experiences.
For more information about the Ramos Research Institute and its research initiatives, please visit www.ramosresearchinstitute.org/interns or contact us at press@ramosresearchinstitute.org.
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About the Ramos Research Institute:
The Ramos Research Institute (RRI) is an emerging research institution dedicated to original research, polling, and policy analysis focused on addressing today’s most complex societal challenges. Founded by Alejandro J. Ramos, RRI produces rigorous, relevant, and accessible research across key areas including civic education and engagement, media literacy, democratic resilience and renewal, education policy, and the voting behavior of minority communities. Through evidence-based inquiry and public-facing scholarship, RRI seeks to generate insights that strengthen democratic culture and inform policy and practice.
Contact:
Nafisa Ruponty
Director of Public Relations
Ramos Research Institute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
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