Spring Intern, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program
About The Position
The CSIS Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism (WITT) Program seeks an entry-level intern for a full-time, 35-hour-per-week position beginning in early spring 2027. The internship is three months, with the possibility of extension to six months. The intern will gain experience in public policy and national security through research, event planning and execution, and administrative support, and will participate in professional development activities. The role suits a highly organized candidate who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys varied research, analytic, and logistics work. The internship is intended for current students and recent graduates who are no more than one year out of school. Applicants with doctoral degrees, multiple graduate degrees, or more than three years of full-time professional experience will not be considered. The hourly rate is $18.40–$20.40, commensurate with experience. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States; CSIS does not sponsor visas for interns.
Requirements
- Completed or near-completed bachelor's degree.
- 0–2 years of relevant work experience, including internships.
- Prior academic or professional experience conducting research on terrorism, irregular warfare, and/or the military activities of U.S. competitors.
- Excellent writing skills.
- Demonstrated success working in collaborative team environments.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously under strict deadlines.
- Availability to work full-time, 35 hours per week, beginning in early spring 2027.
- Eligibility to work in the United States; foreign nationals must have employment authorization because CSIS does not sponsor visas for interns.
Nice To Haves
- In pursuit of a master's degree.
- 1–3 years of experience in a professional office environment.
- Quantitative data research experience, including creating, maintaining, and analyzing datasets.
- Experience creating and manipulating geodatabases, including working with QGIS, CARTO, Mapbox, Google Earth, and other open-source mapping platforms.
- Experience copyediting and reviewing long-form written products, such as 10–50-page commentaries, op-eds, and reports.
- Overseas travel or academic or professional experience in Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East.
- Proficiency in one or more of Arabic, Farsi, Korean, French, Mandarin, Russian, or Ukrainian.
Responsibilities
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on terrorist and non-state actor group activity and irregular and conventional military activity by U.S. competitors, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
- Create, maintain, and use datasets to perform data analysis and create data visualizations.
- Prepare detailed background briefs on a broad range of security issues for research staff.
- Provide scheduling support for calls, in-person and virtual meetings, and travel for events and projects.
- Assist with all aspects of event planning and logistics, including public and private panels and conferences.
- Assist with the publications process, including liaising with the CSIS Dracopoulos iDeas Lab, drafting webpage language, and supporting social media promotion.
- Perform other similar duties as needed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
