The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) seeks an outstanding graduate or advanced undergraduate student for a summer research internship with the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library. The Intern will contribute to geospatial research and data analysis on housing in Massachusetts, supporting a new public-facing exhibition to be mounted by the Leventhal Center in 2027.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of urban research and geospatial analysis, contributing to cartographic and analytical work that will reach broad public audiences through in-person and digital exhibitions.

Page Overview

Summer 2026 Internship Information

Applications are due on Sunday, March 8, 2026 (Plan Ahead! This is at the start of BU Spring Break)

The Intern will serve as a Research Assistant working closely with Leventhal Center staff to support the development of a new exhibition exploring the history and present of housing in Boston and Massachusetts. The exhibition will examine interrelated themes, including housing finance, urban renewal, activist resistance, and more.

Responsibilities will include supporting original cartographic production, spatial analysis, and research for both in-person and digital exhibition components. Depending on the Intern’s interests and skills, projects may include:

  • Digitizing and analyzing data derived from the Center’s urban renewal maps;
  • Exploring eviction patterns across Massachusetts using public data or data from Princeton’s Eviction Lab;
  • Supporting machine learning pipelines for text recognition and analysis of property ownership trends across nineteenth- and twentieth-century Boston; and
  • Mapping the historical geographies of racially restricted deeds and covenants across the greater Boston area

This internship is based in Boston and requires commuting to the Boston Public Library regularly.

About the Leventhal Map & Education Center

The Leventhal Map & Education Center, created in 2004, is a nonprofit organization established as a public-private partnership between the Boston Public Library and philanthropist Norman Leventhal. Its mission is to use the collection of 200,000 maps and 5,000 atlases for the enjoyment and education of all through exhibitions, educational programs, and a website that includes more than 10,000 digitized maps at collections.leventhalmap.org. The map collection is global in scope, dating from the 15th century to the present, with a particular strength in maps and atlases from the New England region, the American Revolutionary War period, nautical charts, and world urban centers.

Compensation & Duration

Compensation: The Intern will receive a total stipend of up to $4,500, paid on an hourly basis by the Leventhal Center. Hourly rates are $18 for undergraduate students and $25 for graduate students.

Please note, this Intern will be paid directly by the Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library (not paid by BU)

Duration: Approximately 5-8 weeks between June and August 2026. Scheduling is flexible and will be coordinated between the student and Leventhal Center staff. The internship may be structured as either full-time for a shorter period or part-time over a longer period.

Location: Boston; regular on-site work at the Boston Public Library is required.

Qualifications

  • Strong work ethic and initiative
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Basic working knowledge of geospatial software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), spatial data models, and data formats.
  • Not required (but strongly preferred): Familiarity with command-line and Python GIS (e.g., GDAL, Shapely, GeoPandas), as well as applied knowledge in urban studies and urban geography

How to Apply & Timeline

Applications due: Sunday, March 8, 2026 (Plan Ahead! This is at the start of BU Spring Break)

Application Materials: As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload a single PDF. This document should contain the following materials in the same order as listed below:

  • Cover letter, including a description of your interests, skills, and knowledge you expect to apply or expand in this position.
  • Resume
  • An essay of no more than 500 words about your perspectives on housing in Boston. Feel free to discuss any aspects of housing that may be relevant to this internship, including using data, housing finance, urban renewal, housing activism, and/or other themes.
  • A list of two references, either academic or professional. Please provide their title, organization, phone number, and email (no letters of recommendation, just the list of two references).
  • Unofficial copy of your academic transcript showing grades and all academic semesters (including the spring 2026 semester ungraded).
    • Screenshots are ok as long as the text is clear and legible.
    • Your BU unofficial academic transcript can be obtained free of charge on MyBU Student. Please contact the registrar for more information.

Naming your single PDF: Please note, you should name your document using the following format: [First and Last Name] Leventhal Center 2026 Application (for example: Jane Doe Leventhal Center 2026 Application).

How to apply: You can apply here. Please double-check all of the above information, including application materials and naming instructions for your PDF. Please also review the eligibility details below.

Timeline: As noted, applications are due on Sunday, March 8, 2026. We expect to award the internship in early to mid-April.

Apply Here

    Eligibility Details

    Only current Boston University undergraduate or graduate students who meet the following conditions are eligible:

    • Applicants must be in good standing at Boston University
    • Applicants must be enrolled in classes as part of a degree-seeking program at Boston University for the current semester (Spring 2026).

    Responsibilities/Terms of Award

      • The Intern will work 35 hours per week for the entire eight weeks.
      • The Intern must be responsive to the Initiative on Cities’ requests during the internship and may be asked to submit or participate in content for the IOC website and/or social media, such as takeovers and photo sessions.
      • Interns must complete a reflection piece within two weeks of completing their internship, reflecting on their experience and the project(s) they worked on throughout the summer.
        • This piece should emphasize the Intern’s core focus for the summer, the impact of their project, and the lessons learned.
        • They are encouraged to incorporate interactive elements, including video and photography.
        • This reflection will be shared on the IOC website.
      • Interns may participate in a roundtable discussion or other related event held in fall 2026 to share their experience.

      Questions

      If you have any questions, please contact David Gross, MetroBridge Program Manager, at davgross@bu.edu.