The Center for the United States and Mexico offers Rice undergraduate students research or administrative internship opportunities. Research interns work directly with institute fellows and scholars on critical policy issues to the U.S.-Mexico relationship. Interns work with senior staff in a professional office environment, providing essential support in a security-sensitive setting.

For more general information about internship opportunities with the center, contact Lisa Guáqueta at lguaqueta@rice.edu

For information about all internship opportunities at the Baker Institute, visit www.bakerinstitute.org/student-opportunities.

The Mexico and U.S. flags in front of a brick wall.

Current Interns

Portrait of Kate Frucht
Kate Frucht
Kate Frucht, ’24, is an undergraduate student at Rice University majoring in political science and social policy analysis and minoring in poverty, justice and human capabilities. Her research interests include housing policy, urban issues, and Christianity and democracy.
Portrait of Sanjana Jain
Sanjana Jain
Sanjana Jain, ’26, is an undergraduate student at Rice University studying economics and business (finance). Her research interests include economic growth, energy/resource economics and sustainable development.
Portrait of Sriya Kakarla
Sriya Kakarla
Sriya Kakarla, ’24, is an undergraduate student at Rice University studying health science and Spanish. Her research interests include immigration, border health care and development policy.
Portrait of Emmanuel Tilias
Emmanuel Tilias
Emmanuel Tilias, ’24, is a graduate student in international political economy at Rice University. His research interests include migration, trade and the global economy.

Spring 2023

Portrait of Sanjana Jain
Sanjana Jain
Sanjana Jain, ’26, is an undergraduate student at Rice University studying economics and business (finance). Her research interests include economic growth, energy/resource economics and sustainable development.
Portrait of Roselyn Ovalle
Roselyn Ovalle
Roselyn Ovalle, ’25, is an undergraduate at Rice University majoring in political science and minoring in poverty, justice and human capabilities. Her research interests include immigrant rights, femicide and economic development.
Portrait of Emmanuel Tilias
Emmanuel Tilias
Emmanuel Tilias, ’24, is a graduate student in international political economy at Rice University. His research interests include migration, trade and the global economy.
Portrait of Karla Vasquez
Karla Vasquez
Karla Vasquez, ’25, is a Rice University undergraduate student studying political science and social policy analysis. Her research interests include U.S.-Mexico border relations, immigration and labor relations.

Fall 2022

Rachel Hecht
Rachel Hecht
Rachel Hecht, '25, is an undergraduate student at Brown University studying international and public affairs. Her research interests include immigration, trade and development.
Aidan Vyas
Aidan Vyas
Aidan Vyas, ’25, is a Rice University sophomore majoring in computer science and economics. His research interests include public policy, international affairs and developmental economics.
Irene Younan
Irene Younan
Irene Younan, ‘23, is a rising senior at Rice University majoring in health sciences and Spanish. Her research interests include U.S.- Mexico border relations and immigration.