Spring 2026, Research & Events Internship, Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Foreign Policy (Job ID 2026-3723)

Overview

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 master's degree with an interest in one or more of the following areas—national security, U.S. defense policy, nonstate armed actors—to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment 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 24 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule. 

To learn more about Brookings research programs, click here. 

Position Location: This is a hybrid opportunity. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Remote work applicants may not work from the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship. 

Responsibilities

This in-person internship will focus on a broad range of foreign policy and national security issues, including U.S. defense modernization and innovation, nonstate armed actors (militants/terrorists), nuclear issues, global governance, and security cooperation. Candidates should also be prepared to conduct research on additional security issues. This internship requires regular in-person presence each week at our Washington, DC office with the option of at some work-from-home time.

Interns will learn how to apply theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom to a professional public policy institution and environment. They will monitor current developments in relevant research areas, conduct

qualitative/quantitative research, produce written briefings and memos, brief support staff and senior fellows, summarize and synthesize documents, edit publications, help staff Brookings events, attend additional external think tank events, maintain databases, conduct additional administrative tasks related to web-postings, and logistical tasks related to events featuring guest speakers. Depending on an intern's foreign language abilities, they may also help translate documents.  

Interns should leave the internship with a better understanding of how to conduct high-quality research and impartial analysis, additional subject matter knowledge on a broad range of national security and foreign policy issues, and experience interacting with top scholars in the field. 

Qualifications

Education/Knowledge/Skills: 

Undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students pursuing a degree in international affairs, foreign policy, history, political science, international law, international political economy, or related fields to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment.   

Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in one or more of the following research areas: national security, U.S. defense policy, nuclear policy, maritime security, illicit economies (such as narcotics or wildlife), or nonstate armed actors (insurgencies, militant/extremist groups, terrorist organizations).

English fluency required.

Additional Information: 

This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. 

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings. 

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit your resume as instructed and include your cover letter as a separate attachment when you apply. You are required to submit/attach a separate cover letter for each internship application. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals. Please address your cover letter to Hiring Manager.  

If selected as a finalist for the internship, you will be required to submit two letters of recommendation or provide two professional references.   

Please note: Applications will be accepted until November 1, 2025. Applications not completed and submitted by the application deadline date will not be considered. Your application is considered complete when you receive an email confirming that your application was successfully submitted. 

As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s).  

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms, including diversity of experience, thought, and personal background.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. All selection decisions are based upon merit, skills, abilities and experience.