Spring Intern, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program

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 275 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

At CSIS we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups.

The CSIS Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism (WITT) Program seeks candidates for a full-time (35 hours per week), three-month (with the possibility of extension to six-month) internship beginning in early spring 2027. The intern will be paid an hourly rate of $18.40-$20.40, commensurate with experience.

The ideal candidate for this job thrives in a fast-paced environment, is highly organized, and enjoys a wide variety of research, analytic, and logistics work. Interns will gain first-hand experience in public policy and national security by assisting in research tasks, event planning and execution, and general administrative support. Interns also participate in professional development activities.

This is an entry-level role designed for current students and recent graduates who are no more than one (1) year out of school. We will not consider applicants with doctoral degrees, multiple graduate degrees, or those with more than three years of full-time professional experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following

• Conducting qualitative and quantitative research to analyze terrorist and non-state actor group activity as well as irregular and conventional military activity by U.S. competitors like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
• Creating, maintaining, and utilizing datasets to perform data analysis and create data visualizations.
• Preparing detailed background briefs on a broad range of security issues for research staff.
• Provide scheduling support to coordinate calls, in-person and virtual meetings, and travel for events and projects.
• Assist in all aspects of event planning and logistics, including for public and private panels and conferences.
• Assist in the publications process, including liaising with the CSIS Dracopoulos iDeas Lab, drafting webpage language, and assisting in social media promotion.
• Other similar duties as needed.

The position requires the following skills and experience

• 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 a week) starting in early spring 2027.

Highly competitive candidates typically have one or more of the following experiences:

• 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.
• Creating and manipulating geodatabases, including working with QGIS, CARTO, Mapbox, Google Earth, and other open-source mapping platforms.
• Experience copyediting and reviewing long-form (10-50 pages) written products such as commentaries, op-eds, and reports.
• Overseas travel or academic/professional experience in Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East.
• Language proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi, Korean, French, Mandarin, Russian, or Ukrainian.

Additional information

All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. Foreign nationals must have employment authorization, as CSIS does not sponsor visas for interns.

How to Apply

Please note that all application instructions must be closely followed; otherwise, your application will be rejected. Interested applicants should submit their resume as a PDF and respond to the short-answer questions below.

Any supplementary materials submitted through the online portal (e.g., cover letters, college transcripts, writing samples, and letters of recommendation) will not be reviewed.

Physical Requirements and Work Conditions

Equal Opportunity Employer.