Cyber Ops Research Intern: Turn Insight into Impact

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 31,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD offers an analytical internship in the Cyber Warfare Systems Group. Interns work with analysts, researchers, engineers, and cyber practitioners on real problems supporting cyber operations.

You will investigate ambiguous questions, apply methods from intelligence analysis, data science, and graph/network analysis, and develop assessments or visualizations.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Intelligence Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Foreign Language, Psychology, Data Science, Statistics, Economics, History, or a related analytical discipline.
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Enjoy investigating ambiguous questions, identifying patterns and connections, evaluating evidence, and turning findings into useful insights.
• Can critically evaluate analytical methods and tools, including AI‑enabled approaches, and distinguish evidence‑supported conclusions from unsupported assumptions.
• Can effectively communicate information, concepts, findings, and ideas to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Are able to acquire an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a Top Secret with SCI level security clearance.
• Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Investigate complex questions using open-source information, publicly or commercially available information, data, intelligence, foreign-language sources, and other research methods.
• Apply analytical methods such as intelligence analysis, targeting, graph theory, network analysis, data science, structured analytic techniques, or human-systems analysis.
• Develop assessments, analytical methods, data products, visualizations, or decision‑support approaches that turn complex information into useful mission insight.
• Use and critically evaluate AI‑enabled analytical tools and emerging methods, understanding both their potential and limitations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary APL teams and government and contractor partners as analysis informs capability development and mission execution.
• Have opportunities to contribute your own ideas and perspective. Our interns are active members of the team, eager to learn quickly, and make a meaningful team impact.

Skills

Analytical skills

Research abilities

Data analysis

Language proficiency

Education

Intelligence Studies

International Relations

Political Science

Foreign Language

Psychology

Data Science

Statistics

Economics

History

Tools

Graph theory

Network analysis

Data science

AI tools

Structured analytic techniques

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD offers an analytical internship in the Cyber Warfare Systems Group. Interns work with analysts, researchers, engineers, and cyber practitioners on real problems supporting cyber operations.

You will investigate ambiguous questions, apply methods from intelligence analysis, data science, and graph/network analysis, and develop assessments or visualizations.