Intern - Renewing American Innovation Project (Spring 2026)

CSIS • Washington, MA

60d • $18 - $20 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 250 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe. CSIS seeks an intern to support the Renewing American Innovation project. Renewing American Innovation (RAI) explores issues at the cutting edge of science, innovation, and technology policy in the United States. The intern will collaborate with and enable a fast-paced team producing concrete analysis on methods for renewing the U.S. innovation ecosystem, a critical national security asset. The program is looking to hire an intern for an early to mid- January 2026 start date. The intern is expected to work five days a week, Monday through Friday, for a total of 35 hours/week. The position will be predominantly in-person with some flexibility for remote working. Applications should be submitted no later than Wednesday, November 12 at 11:59pm Eastern. The hired candidates will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience ($18.00/hour for current undergraduate hires, $19.00/hour for hires with a bachelor's degree, and $20.00/hour for hires with a master's degree).

Requirements

• Must be in final year of undergraduate degree program, recent graduate (within past year), or current graduate student.
• Must have obtained or must be pursuing a BA or MA in International Affairs, Political Science, Public Policy, or intellectual property law, or STEM field.
• Must have at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent from a non-U.S. institution.
• Familiarity with U.S. foreign policy and national security establishment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong writing skills tailored for a policy audience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas effectively and concisely.
• Demonstrated familiarity and experience with social media platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated interest in science and technology policy preferred.

Responsibilities

• Providing research and administrative support for project staff and the program's network of senior advisers.
• Copyediting long- and short-form publications and other research products.
• Writing on innovation and technology policy or other related topics as assigned for the Perspectives on Innovation blog and Innovation Lightbulb newsletter.
• Assisting in public and private event planning and execution.
• Managing and maintaining RAI's social media pages.
• Drafting RAI's biweekly newsletter, The Innovation Hub.
• Taking and distributing memos from internal and external meetings to RAI staff.
• Assisting as needed on ad hoc projects or requests.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Industry: Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees