Job Specifications
Job Summary
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.
The Futures Lab is housed within the Defense and Security Department (DSD) at CSIS. Simply put, the mission of the lab is to generate products that are evidence based, use both qualitative and quantitative analysis to inform US policymakers decision-making process and impact US policy. The lab achieves this through independent research, convening experts from diverse backgrounds, and publishing robust reports with tailored policy recommendations that inform decision-making in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Each scholar in the lab is a first-generation graduate with a dedication to civil service. This grounds the research of the lab to provide an expansive view of strategic studies and national security. From cyber threats facing the federal enterprise to gender analysis under authoritarianism or quantitatively analyzing the impact of Russian firepower strikes, the work of the lab tries to encompass all facets of national/international security under public policy. The lab will at times engage in cross-team collaboration within the DSD, but most of the research and analysis is standalone and at the direction of Senior Fellow, Co-Founder and leader of the Futures Lab, Dr. Benjamin Jensen.
The CSIS Futures Lab seeks a motivated candidate for a full-time (35 hours per week), 10-week internship beginning in mid September 2025 (Fall). This will be an in-person position, located at our DC office. The research intern will carry out research (30%) and administrative tasks (60%) to support quantitative, administrative and general project functions. Qualified candidates will understand that no task will be too small nor too big to execute in support of the team.
Qualified candidates should have a demonstrated interest AND experience in data science, emerging technologies, strategic studies or state fragility. In addition they will also have a demonstrated interest AND experience in carryout administrative task like data entry, packet or document assembly for their principal investigator or any non-research tasks. Further, interns should expect to be an active participant in conducting research, taking notes at meetings, printing, facilitating crisis simulations and wargames, and conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis with minimal supervision. This position requires an ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and have a strong, independent work ethic. Most importantly, we are interested in any candidate who is passionate about our research, willing to learn new skills, and strives to contribute and implement new ideas. Again, no task is too small and since the portfolio is split leaning into the administrative side, candidates must understand that their role is not uniquely research heavy.
Internships are seasonal and typically last three months (10 weeks) with the possibility of extension up to six months at the discretion of the program. Applicants should indicate available start and end dates in their cover letter.
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).
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Research interns bolster the team with a variety of core research and analytical skills. Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following
Assisting with research and analysis, including data collection and management
Data wrangling, cleaning, reshaping, modeling and presentation at the direction of their supervisor
Copy-editing upcoming publications, filling out promotional material
Printing and document assembly for table top exercises or wargames
Note-taking and writing summaries of events and meetings
Assisting with event planning and staffing, including drafting invitation letters, background research, drafting questions, and staffing events
Various administrative duties such as printing, brewing coffee and event logistics
Knowledge, education, and experience
Applicants must have recently graduated an undergraduate or master’s program with at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in any of the following Political Science, International Relations/Affairs, Security Studies, Computational Social Sciences, Public Policy OR a minor/concentration/certification in the aforementioned studies including data analytics, computer science OR similar. Students with low academic constraints based in D.C. for the seme
About the Company
Established in Washington, DC over 60 years ago, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to providing strategic insights and policy solutions to help decisionmakers chart a course toward a better world. The CSIS Middle East Program analyzes the drivers of the region’s social, political, economic, and environmental changes for U.S. and global audiences. With a broad following among decision makers and thought leaders around the world, the CSIS...
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