Please get in touch with the Investigations Director or Investigations Lab Associate Director to inquire about volunteer or alumni opportunities.
The Human Rights Center Investigations Lab trains students in using social media and other publicly available, internet-based sources to develop evidence for advocacy, media, and legal accountability. Students have the opportunity to collect and authenticate information on war crimes and human rights abuses and will have an opportunity to engage in one or more real-world investigations.
To learn more about the Human Rights Investigations Lab, please visit our program page. For media requests about the Lab, please write to [mandresen@berkeley.edu].
For Students
The HRC Lab is a collaborative, innovative, student-driven space that conducts investigations on human rights violations, international crimes and other injustices around the globe using digital open source information. In the Lab, members work in student-led teams to help discover, document and verify social media content and open source information to assist a wide range of external partners in legal, journalistic, and human rights fact-finding efforts.
We expect students to dedicate 6 — 8 hours per week to working on project-centered investigations with real-world partners with their team to advance the project and support their partner’s goals.
The information provided below explains the enrollment pathways to join the Investigations Lab. The graphic provides a visual representation and includes the academic courses offered by the Human Rights Center that include digital investigation skills training. All students who join the Lab will participate in foundational digital investigation skills training offered at the beginning of the semester. Advanced skills trainings in specific areas are offered throughout the year.
The Investigations Lab is no longer accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. We may open a few spots for the spring 2025 semester, please keep an eye on this page for any updates.
You can also refer to our current list of academic courses to decide on the best way to connect with the Human Rights Center’s research and investigations, including classes offered at the Journalism School, Law School, and investigations led by the Technology, Law and Policy program.
Student Information Session
Pathways to the Lab
Details by Group
There are opportunities to apply to the Investigations Lab at the beginning of fall and spring semesters (dependent on space). As an undergraduate student, you can apply through the URAP application as the application becomes available in fall 2024. The Investigations Lab is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. Please complete the URAP application AND the supplemental application.
Graduate students who join the Investigations Lab gain valuable hands-on skills not always offered in their program, and the opportunity to engage with real-world partner organizations prior to graduation. The Investigations Lab takes on a limited number of students each year. Please note that you must apply to and be accepted into the Investigations Lab before enrolling in L297 research credits. Berkeley Law Registrar’s Forms provide instructions for graduate students on how to enroll in L297 credits to conduct research with the Investigations Lab. Alternately, you can participate in the Lab through a credit-bearing course, such as Open Source Investigations J264A and J264B (through the journalism school), also known as L224 (through the law school), or Human Rights and War Crimes Investigations (L262.68). All non-law graduate students may submit an interdepartmental application “Law School Course Enrollment Application for UC Berkeley Graduate Students.” The Interdepartmental Application is available to only non-Law graduates as an Interdepartmental eForm (preferred). NB: You will require prior approval from your Home Department and the Investigations Lab before submitting an application.
Journalism graduate students can enroll in J264A (fall) and J264B (spring) Open Source Investigative Reporting to work on a year-long journalism investigation.” They may also submit an interdepartmental application “Law School Course Enrollment Application for UC Berkeley Graduate Students.” The Interdepartmental Application is available to only non-Law graduates as an Interdepartmental eForm (preferred). NB: You will require prior approval from your Home Department and the Investigations Lab before submitting an application.
Law students submit an application depending on if they are enrolled as JD or LLM students. JD students should submit: “J.D. LAW 297, 298 & 299 Add Petition” while LLM students should submit: “LL.M. Traditional Track 297-299 Add Petition.” The LLM Petition is available to students via DocuSign. NB: You will require prior approval from the Investigations Lab before submitting an application.
The Lab accepts a limited number of paid graduate student research (GSR) positions each year. These roles usually require prior experience in digital investigations and are offered to students who are in the Lab or have completed a relevant course. Please reach out to the Lab Director if you have questions about GSR positions.