Access to justice fellowship

SAAPRI Access to Justice Fellow

October 15, 2025 - April 15, 2026 | 6 months | 8 Hours/Week

About SAAPRI

The South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois. Through community-based research and partnerships, SAAPRI drives impactful policy changes at the local, regional, and national level. We are dedicated to empowering and advocating for the South Asian American community by advancing data equity and ensuring representation that truly reflects their diverse experiences. SAAPRI researches emerging and longstanding issues critical to our communities. Using key findings, we develop data-driven policy recommendations to foster justice for a community that has historically been underserved and underrepresented.

To learn more about us, visit our website:

Position Overview

SAAPRI is seeking a highly motivated Access to Justice (ATJ) Research Fellow to lead the development of South Asian Immigration: Justice & Reform, a major publication that develops systemic immigration barriers, curates community experiences, and develops policy recommendations to advance immigrant justice. The Fellow will be responsible for planning and executing the full research process, including literature reviews, policy tracking, data collection, interviews, and focus groups, and for writing and shaping the final report. In addition to leading this publication, the Fellow will contribute to hate crime tracking, analysis, and communications efforts, supporting SAAPRI’s broader Access to Justice work. This role is ideal for someone passionate about immigrant rights and South Asian advocacy who is eager to take ownership of a high-impact project, from research design and outreach to polished publication and public engagement.

Key Responsibilities

South Asian Immigration: Justice & Reform Report

• Designing and implementing a comprehensive research plan for the report, ensuring clear timelines, structure, and deliverables.
• Conducting in-depth literature reviews and monitoring ongoing immigration policy changes (local, state, and federal) with a focus on key issues (visa backlogs, aging out, undocumented South Asians, F-1/OPT crisis, and work-based visas).
• Leading data collection efforts to expand SAAPRI’s immigration survey sample by at least 200 additional responses through targeted outreach campaigns (email, social media, digital community networks, partnerships with student associations, CBOs, etc.).
• Recruiting and engaging survey respondents, interviewees, and focus group participants to gather qualitative stories and ensure diverse representation.
• Synthesizing data from surveys, focus groups, interviews, and partner organizations into clear, compelling findings.
• Writing, editing, and fact-checking report content, making it accessible for both policymakers and community members.
• Incorporating insights from SAAPRI’s Engaged Communities Series and other Access to Justice work.
• Collaborating with interns, fellows, and design staff to produce visuals, infographics, and charts that strengthen the report.
• Coordinating with SAAPRI leadership and advisors to ensure the report aligns with advocacy goals and is ready for release by April 2026 .

Hate Crimes and Broader Access to Justice Work

• Assist with ongoing hate crime tracking and reporting; compile trends and narratives to highlight community safety concerns.
• Support outreach, communications, and partnerships to amplify SAAPRI’s hate crime and ATJ work.
• Contribute to program development by building workflows, templates, and recommendations to strengthen SAAPRI’s ATJ infrastructure.
• Provide occasional support for social media content, community education campaigns, and Engaged Communities Series (ECS) events to connect research to broader advocacy and public engagement.

Qualifications and Preferred Skills

• Graduate student or recent graduate in public policy, law, social sciences, or a related field (exceptional undergraduates with research experience will be considered).
• Strong writing and research skills; proven ability to produce high-quality reports, briefs, or publications.
• Demonstrated interest in immigration justice, immigrant rights, or South Asian community advocacy.
• Familiarity with qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups) and/or survey design; experience in mixed-methods research a plus.
• Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• (Preferred) Experience with policy tracking, literature reviews, or public-facing research.
• (Preferred) Experience with data visualization or tools like Canva, Tableau, or GIS mapping.
• (Strongly Preferred) Proficiency in a South Asian language and understanding of South Asian community dynamics.

Fellowship Details

• Duration: 6 months (Oct 15, 2025 – Apr 15, 2026)
• Hours: ~8 hours/week (flexible scheduling)
• Location: Remote
• Compensation: $20/hour
• Primary Deliverable: Comprehensive Immigration Report (finalized by April 2026)

How to Apply

Please fill out this application form:

1. Resume (1–2 pages)
2. Cover letter (1 page) describing your interest and relevant experience
3. Two Writing samples (preferably including a research paper, policy memo, or published piece)

Priority Deadline: September 25, 2025 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis until filled)

If you have any questions, please email Anushka Das at [email protected]