Spring 2026, Research and Events Internship, Foreign Policy (Job ID: 2026-3741)

The Brookings Institution • DC

90d • $18

About The Position

Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks! Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills. Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution. This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students pursuing a masters degree with an interest in U.S. foreign policy and Middle East Studies to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.00, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 20 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule. To learn more about Brookings research programs, click here.

Requirements

• Undergraduate students in their junior or senior year, or graduate students pursuing a masters degree in a relevant field (i.e. international relations, Middle East Studies, Political Science, or related field).
• Strong writing, research, communication, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated research interest in U.S. national security policy, the politics and security of the modern Middle East and North Africa, the geopolitics of energy security, and U.S. foreign assistance.
• Familiarity with major news outlets and key regional issues across the Middle East.
• Previous editing and proofreading experience.
• Experience writing for publication, such as student research or journalism.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in Arabic language skills.
• Previous experience working for a senior principal, such as in-school research assistance.

Responsibilities

• Support research and activities on a broad range of foreign policy issues, including politics, economics, and security trends in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
• Contribute to research projects on emerging issues in Middle East Politics, focusing on conflicts in the region and state transitions in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data related to energy security, climate change, and private sector efforts across MENA.
• Assist with programmatic and administrative work, event coordination, and research support.
• Produce written products on a weekly basis for internal use.
• Help develop, refine, and publish U.S. foreign policy proposals.
• Support logistical planning and implementation of conferences, roundtables, briefings, and other meetings.
• Monitor current developments in relevant research areas across multiple news sources.
• Write, fact-check, and edit research materials.
• Collect, review, summarize, and assemble relevant academic and non-academic sources.

Benefits

• Hourly pay of $18.00.
• Opportunity to network with other interns.
• Professional development workshops.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree