Internship in Applied Animal Welfare Research (Fall 2026)

Summary:

Housed within the ASPCA’s Strategy Vertical, the Research and Impact Measurement Teams conduct program evaluation and original research to guide organizational strategy and drive progress in the animal welfare field using high-quality science. The Research and Impact Measurement Teams seek dedicated, highly motivated, and passionate interns in Applied Animal Welfare Research to develop knowledge and skills in leveraging data to create impact for animals under direct supervision of staff in the department. Interns will become familiar with the role of research and program evaluation in guiding organizational decision-making and driving action in the animal welfare field. ASPCA research broadly includes topics related to access to veterinary care, animal sheltering and behavior, and animal cruelty.

This remote-based position is open to all candidates based within the United States.

The deadline to submit your application is Monday, March 23, 2026 at 9am ET.

Intern opportunities may include, but shall not be limited to:

• Assisting with program evaluation or research planning and design, literature review, data collection, statistical analysis, qualitative analysis, and writing manuscripts

• Learning and practicing project management skills

• Developing field-facing and public-facing research communications plans

• Participating in webinars, conferences, and other opportunities for sharing research findings

• Attending internal meetings, including Strategy Vertical meetings with collaborating programmatic teams

• Assisting with miscellaneous tasks and projects as needed

Details:

Start: For more details on internship structure, please view this website.

Duration: One semester in length; potential to extend pending the Strategy team’s availability

Hours: 10-20 hours per week (negotiable)

The internship will require at least some availability during Monday - Friday working hours to attend meetings

Compensation:

The pay rate is based on where the intern works, which for remote roles is the intern’s primary location of residence. You can view which zone applies to you based on your location (aspca.app.box.com/v/aspcazonetable). For questions regarding locations not on the list, please send an email to Careers@aspca.org for more information.

The pay rate for this seasonal intern role is:

• Zone 1: $18.00 per hour

• Zone 2: $19.00 per hour

• Zone 3: $20.00 per hour

Pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.

Location: Remote. A laptop will be provided.

Candidate’s Field: Open to candidates in any field; recent projects have related to the following topics:

• Veterinary Medicine

• Animal Behavior/ Ethology

• Psychology/Human Behavior

• Human-Animal Interactions

• Social Work

• Public Health

• Geographic Information Systems

• Economics

Responsibilities:

Qualifications/Experience:

• Students currently enrolled in an academic degree or certificate program (Graduate or advanced undergraduate (junior/senior year) level preferred). Individuals not currently enrolled in an educational program may be considered.

Required:

• Proficiency with Excel including functionality such as creating and formatting spreadsheets, sorting and filtering data, using simple formulas for basic calculations, and creating basic charts. Additional expertise in Excel a plus

• Solid critical thinking skills

• Ability to work independently (self-starter)

• High level of maturity and professionalism

• Strong written and oral communication skills

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals

• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes

• Believes in Team – that we are stronger together

• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible

• Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

A plus:

• Coursework completed in research methods, statistics, data science, or similar topics

• Experience using statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R, etc.) for data management and analysis as a part of your coursework; experience using statistical software on a research project an additional plus

• Experience with program evaluation, research design and/or data collection as a part of your coursework; experience using program evaluation, research design and/or data collection on a research project or on an independent research project an additional plus

• Familiarity with animal welfare topics and issues through academic studies, volunteering, and/or working in the animal welfare field

• Animal welfare interests that align with current ASPCA research topics within access to veterinary care, animal sheltering and behavior, and/or animal cruelty

Qualifications:

Language:

Education and Work Experience:

Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act:
Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees’ protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado and Oregon: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058 and ORS 659A.030, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries through completion of the initial interview. We can require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant should redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

Indiana Applicants: Pursuant to Indiana law, we are providing notice that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by: (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component. Should you feel that you were a victim of discrimination on the basis of veteran status, please let us know at careers@aspca.org. Alternatively, you can file a complaint with the following agencies at any time: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Office: (317) 232-2600 | Toll Free: (800) 628-2909; Hearing Impaired: (800) 743-3333 | Fax: (317) 232-6580; E-mail: icrc@crc.in.gov | Website: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Indianapolis Field Office; 115 W. Washington Street South Tower Suite 600; Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone: 463-999-1240; Fax: 317-226-7953; TTY: 1-800-669-6820;ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122.

Massachusetts Applicants: Per Massachusetts law, we are providing notice that it is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Philadelphia Applicants: You may view your rights under the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Act here.