Meet our 2025 interns!
We are so happy to introduce our incredible new interns: Abigail, Nana, and Leyla, who will be with us over the summer.
Get to know them below…
MEET ABIGAIL!
Tell us a bit about you and your background / journey before Humankind Research
My name is Abigail, and I am a Sociology student currently studying at LSE. Prior to starting at Humankind Research, I would say that my values and interests have always aligned with a people-first and people-led approach that looks at individual experiences and how this can then be translated into wider society. Studying sociology has given me the tools to understand how society is structured and is changing in a theoretical way, plus how this translates in contemporary actions and behaviours that we see around the world. I particularly enjoy conversations that focus on education, young people and inequalities, having worked as a part-time tutor for a few years. I love breaking down the who, what, why of the systems and organisations that make up the world and seeing what can be done to make change.
What are you looking forward to learning more about during this internship?
I am looking forward to learning about research in a non-academic space, and what market research is all about. I would like to grow my practical qualitative and quantitative skills, which so far, I have only used in a written context for university work. In addition to this, I am looking forward to working within a team environment that thrives on collaboration and the sharing of ideas on a project.
If you could work on any dream project during your time here, what would it be and why?
I would love to work on a project about diversity and inclusivity within spaces that have historically shut out marginalised communities. I particularly like how commercial brands incorporate research into initiatives and I would love to be involved in how this plays out. I have an interest in projects that involve young people, especially on education and extra-curricular activities like sports or music.
MEET NANA!
Tell us a bit about you and your background / journey before Humankind Research
Before starting my internship with Humankind Research I had just finished my final year at the London School of Economics (LSE) where I did Politics with Anthropology. In addition to balancing my studies, I got to undertake various internship roles that enabled me to explore my interests and challenged my perspectives. From challenging educational inequality with Dallaglio RugbyWorks, to undertaking a research internship investigating police brutality with marginalised groups in Canada, I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring my interests and learning from diverse groups.
Outside of academia, I am passionate about learning about the lived experiences of different individuals and communities. I also enjoy cooking, reading, and occasionally writing poetry!
What are you looking forward to learning more about during this internship?
I look forward to understanding the needs of different organisations and understanding the various stages of research Humankind engages in. I’m also quite interested in understanding how research agencies overcome different challenges when conducting research.
Additionally, my previous research experience enabled me to understand why understanding positionality as researchers is important for inclusive research. I am curious to understand how Humankind embeds positionality across their work.
If you could work on any dream project during your time here, what would it be and why?
I am particularly interested in how Black women experience neurodiversity. Specifically, how race, gender, and neurodiversity intersect to investigate whether gendered and racial expectations shape neurodivergence in Black women.
This is motivated by my own experiences as well as the experience of other neurodivergent Black women I know who have had experiences that are not well documented in mainstream understanding of neurodivergent people.
MEET LEYLA!
Tell us a bit about you and your background / journey before Humankind Research
Hi, I’m Leyla, a Politics and Sociology student interning at Humankind Research. I’ve always been passionate about understanding the needs of society and being part of the process that drives meaningful change. My journey so far reflects this commitment - I work as a campaign strategist for the Halo Collective, an organisation fighting afro-textured hair discrimination in schools and workplaces. I’ve also volunteered as an English teacher for asylum seekers and am currently creating a documentary on reproductive health disparities affecting Black women.
Outside of my work, I’m an adventurer at heart - I love to travel and explore new places.
What are you looking forward to learning more about during this internship?
One of the things I was most excited about when joining Humankind was gaining exposure to an industry I hadn’t explored much before. Market research is incredibly layered, and this internship has already shown me how dynamic the field can be.
I’m looking forward to learning from the team’s expertise - especially around research methodologies - and gaining hands-on experience through real projects. I'm also really excited to be part of a people-centred organisation, where I can see how purpose-driven work operates day-to-day. I hope this experience helps shape my vision of what a future career could look like.
If you could work on any dream project during your time here, what would it be and why?
If I could work on a dream project during my time at Humankind, it would involve working with international charities, like Amnesty International. For example, supporting them in understanding how to expand their presence within different communities, or how to better align their values with the needs of their audiences.
This would be a dream because it would give me the opportunity to understand the experiences of people around the world, while engaging with different research methodologies on a global scale. Not only do the missions of charities like Amnesty align with my passions, but their impact is powerful, and being part of that would be incredibly meaningful to me.