Intern – Drug Research – World Drug Report

About the role

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is seeking a motivated intern to support the preparation of the World Drug Report. Based in Vienna, the role offers hands‑on experience in drug‑use research, data analysis and policy‑relevant reporting within the Research and Knowledge Production Section.

Key responsibilities

• Review and update datasets on people who inject drugs, HIV and hepatitis C prevalence.
• Conduct systematic literature reviews of scientific and grey sources related to drug use and health outcomes.
• Assist in validating compiled data and preparing reference lists and formatting for reports.
• Produce graphs, tables and visualisations to present findings.
• Support coordination tasks for the World Drug Report, working under the supervision of professional staff.

Required profile

• Enrolled in or recently completed a bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. programme (or equivalent) in public health, epidemiology, sociology, political science or a related field.
• Strong interest in United Nations work and commitment to its charter.
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• No prior professional experience required; research experience in drug‑use or health topics is an asset.

Required skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint.

What we offer

• Unpaid, full‑time internship (40 hours per week) for the period 26 Oct 2026 – 31 Mar 2027.
• Opportunity to work in an international UN environment in Vienna.
• Direct mentorship from experienced researchers.