ACLS Opens Applications for 2027 Graduate Internships on Spiritual Infrastructure
The American Council of Learned Societies is accepting applications for a summer internship program connecting PhD students with nonprofit organizations focused on religious and social research.
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has opened the second application cycle for its "Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future" program. Funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, the initiative offers nine-week summer placements for PhD students in the humanities and social sciences.
The program aims to provide students with professional experience applying academic research skills to organizational challenges. Interns are paired with 10 partner organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee, Religion News Service, and Interfaith America, to work on projects related to the intersection of religion, community, and social change.
For host organizations, the program provides access to specialized research capabilities and analytical skills. Following the internship, participants engage in cohort-based workshops designed to prepare them for careers both within and outside of academia.
The deadline for applications is in January 2027. The program functions as part of a broader effort to build institutional partnerships between academic scholars and nonprofits addressing the evolving American religious landscape.