Cognitive Warfare Project Internship Fall 2026

Institute for the Study of War • Washington, DC

14d • $1,000 - $1,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is offering in-person, remote, and hybrid internships for Fall 2026. ISW is committed to training the next generation of national security leaders through its innovative educational programs. ISW seeks motivated and experienced college students or recent graduates to join our intern team. ISW offers internships across diverse research portfolios and departments, including Russia, China, and Iran's Axis of Resistance. ISW also offers internships in National Security and Intelligence Analysis, and Geospatial Intelligence and National Security Technologies and in non-profit management, including Communications.

Interns at ISW have an unparalleled opportunity to analyze conflicts in ways that directly inform policymakers on some of the most pressing issues facing American national security. Our interns work directly with analysts. They receive classroom education, regular leadership engagement, and a chance to work with cutting-edge technologies employed in business and the intelligence community. Interns have the opportunity to stand at the front lines of military research and policy development, tackling the latest crises in the headlines.

The ISW Internship Program is one of three core education programs housed within The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders, launched to identify, educate, and develop the future cadre of leaders committed to America’s national security. ISW views interns as an integral component of its team. ISW has worked with interns to draft, edit, and publish their own research under the mentorship of senior analysts. It has also hired many interns onto its staff.

Cognitive Warfare Project Internship: Interns will support the new Cognitive Warfare Project (CWP) at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which studies, analyzes, and visualizes adversary cognitive warfare against the United States and its allies. Interns are expected to collect, process, analyze, and synthesize open-source intelligence (OSINT) relating to adversary cognitive campaigns. Interns will support long-term research assignments and may also have valuable interactions with software partners who are transforming the national security space. Interns will learn to analyze the cognitive domain and how it impacts policymaking, kinetic activities, and strategy. This is a full-time internship (five days per week), but part-time work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements

• Demonstrated interest in cognitive and information warfare; disinformation/misinformation; artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology; international affairs; or propaganda and media studies.
• Demonstrated interest in national security or regional studies, particularly relating to Russia, Ukraine, Europe, or China.
• Excellent writing, editing, research, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to conduct complex tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
• Self-motivated, independent, creative, and capable of working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to—and interest in—the core mission and values of ISW.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and be physically present in the United States during their internship tenure.
• If attending a US university on a student visa, must be eligible for and obtain a CPT authorization before beginning at ISW.

Nice To Haves

• Strong critical language capabilities in Russian, Ukrainian, or Mandarin.
• Experience conducting research using primary sources in a foreign language.
• Experience with data visualization tools, large data sets, AI, and data management systems.

Responsibilities

• Collect, process, analyze, and synthesize open-source intelligence (OSINT) relating to adversary cognitive campaigns.
• Support long-term research assignments.
• Interact with software partners who are transforming the national security space.
• Analyze the cognitive domain and how it impacts policymaking, kinetic activities, and strategy.

Benefits

• Up to a $1,000 monthly living stipend as part of a scholarship program.
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies.
• Classroom education.
• Regular leadership engagement.
• Opportunity to stand at the front lines of military research and policy development.
• Opportunity to draft, edit, and publish their own research under the mentorship of senior analysts.
• Potential to be hired onto ISW's staff.
• Academic credit for internships where applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed