Socio-Cultural Analyst Intern (Strong Writing & Research Skills)

Protagonist•Washington, DC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Protagonist Intern has a passion for understanding the deeply held beliefs -- the narratives -- that drive critical issues. Our interns support the continued development of our Narrative Analytics offering and related products by finding and isolating the conversations that matter - from both online media and traditional sources. You have a passion for understanding what drives the deeply held beliefs held by populations around the world, are data-savvy, have outstanding analytical skills, and are creative and enthusiastic about using the power of narratives to understand how perceptions drive action. Attention to detail and comfort with ambiguity are key attributes.

Requirements

Authorized to work in the US
Must be able to work in our Washington DC office 1-2 days per week.
Must currently be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (e.g., pursuing a BA, MA, PhD, etc.)
Strong research and writing skills are required, including ability to synthesize open-source research and independently write an international affairs/history analysis piece
Experience with in-depth research using a variety of techniques to mine insights from both primary (e.g., interviews) and secondary sources (e.g., journals)
Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills; able to communicate complex problems with clarity
Able to work independently as well as part of a cross-functional team
Ability to meet tight deadlines, under pressure, with outstanding attention to detail
Love working in a fast-paced, startup environment full of complexity, ambiguity and change
Available to work a minimum of 20 hours/week throughout the semester, with a preference for a graduating student

Nice To Haves

Must be able to work on US Government contracts that may be restricted to US citizens; existing security clearance (SECRET or higher) a plus
Course work in international relations and/or a focus in communications and related fields is a plus.
Experience with data visualization strongly desired

Responsibilities

Conduct qualitative research on various international populations to understand the narratives that shape their beliefs, perceptions and views of the world
Work with teams to articulate the narratives held by various international populations, and write reports that clearly and succinctly convey the team’s findings
Support identification of subject matter experts on selected countries, conduct research on key heroes, villains and historical eras of importance
Implement research plans for assigned projects, based on discussions with members of various project teams
Collaborate with the case teams to identify and visualize insights that answer key client questions