Intern - Renewing American Innovation (Fall 2026)

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC is seeking an intern to support the Renewing American Innovation project. The intern will collaborate with a fast-paced team delivering concrete analysis on renewing the U.S.

innovation ecosystem, a critical national security asset. The internship starts September 2026, requires 35 hours per week (Mon–Fri), and is predominantly in-person with some remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• Must be in final year of undergraduate degree program, recent graduate, or current graduate student.
• Must have BA/MA in International Affairs, Political Science, Public Policy, or STEM field.
• Must have at least a 3.0 GPA from a US or equivalent institution.
• Familiarity with U.S. foreign policy and national security establishment.
• Demonstrated interest in science and technology policy preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong writing skills for a policy audience.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas concisely.
• Familiarity with social media platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide research and administrative support for project staff and advisers.
• Copyedit long- and short-form publications and other research products.
• Write on innovation and technology policy for CSIS publications and newsletters.
• Assist in public and private event planning and execution.
• Manage and maintain RAI's social media pages.
• Draft RAI's biweekly newsletter, The Innovation Hub.
• Distribute memos from meetings to RAI staff.
• Assist on ad hoc projects or requests.

Skills

Strong writing

Policy writing for audience

Strong oral communication

Social media familiarity

Effective communication of complex; -

Education

Final year undergrad or recent graduate or current grad student

BA/MA in International Affairs, Political Science, Public Policy, or STEM

GPA ≥ 3.0 (4.0 scale)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

Internship Overview

CSIS seeks an intern to support the Renewing American Innovation project. Renewing American Innovation (RAI) explores issues at the cutting edge of science, innovation, and technology policy in the United States. The intern will collaborate with and enable a fast-paced team producing concrete analysis on methods for renewing the U.S. innovation ecosystem, a critical national security asset. The program is looking to hire an intern for a September 2026 start date. The intern is expected to work five days a week, Monday through Friday, for a total of 35 hours per week. The position will be predominantly in-person with some flexibility for remote working. The hired candidate will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience: ($18.40/hour for current undergraduate hires, $19.40/hour for hires with a Bachelor's degree, and $20.40/hour for hires with a Master's degree).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

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

• Providing research and administrative support for project staff and the program's network of senior advisers.
• Copyediting long- and short-form publications and other research products.
• Writing on innovation and technology policy or other related topics as assigned for the Perspectives on Innovation blog and Innovation Lightbulb newsletter.
• Assisting in public and private event planning and execution.
• Managing and maintaining RAI's social media pages.
• Drafting RAI's biweekly newsletter, The Innovation Hub.
• Taking and distributing memos from internal and external meetings to RAI staff.
• Assisting as needed on ad hoc projects or requests.

Knowledge, Education, And Experience

• Must be in final year of undergraduate degree program, recent graduate (within past year), or current graduate student.
• Must have obtained or must be pursuing a BA or MA in International Affairs, Political Science, Public Policy, or STEM field.
• Must have at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent from a non-U.S. institution.
• Familiarity with U.S. foreign policy and national security establishment.
• Demonstrated interest in science and technology policy preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong writing skills tailored for a policy audience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas effectively and concisely.
• Demonstrated familiarity and experience with social media platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Salary Range : $18.40 USD - $20.40 USD

Physical Requirements And Work Conditions

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity Employer.