Middle East Research Fall 2026 Internship

fdd; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 11,000 - 20,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend

Academic credit

Hybrid/Remote options

Job summary

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) invites interns to join the Middle East Research Program in Washington, DC. Interns will conduct research on regional developments, politics, and security, working with senior staff and researchers, and contributing to analyses and briefs.

Open to both full-time and part-time interns with hybrid or remote options; stipends are available and academic credit may be earned. Applicants should indicate regional interests in their cover letters.

Qualifications

• Must have at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Should have coursework in International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics, Political Science, Computer Science, or STEM.
• Interns should be proficient with Microsoft Office and basic Excel.
• Must be able to commit to a minimum of 22 hours per week.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on Israel, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon projects.
• Work closely with FDD staff and the director of research.
• Assist with writing tasks and policy analyses.

Skills

Strong writing

Research experience

Hours commitment

Education

IR or Security Studies or History or Communications or Journalism or International Economics or Political Science or Computer Science or STEM

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)

Job description

Internship Opportunities

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy. FDD conducts in-depth research, produces accurate and timely analyses, identifies illicit activities, and provides policy options – all with the aim of strengthening U.S. national security and reducing or eliminating threats posed by adversaries and enemies of the United States and other free nations. FDD does not accept donations from any foreign governments.

About FDD's Internship Program

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies offers a variety of internship opportunities designed to provide meaningful professional development. Interns participate in a twice-monthly speaker series featuring senior staff members in a small-group setting and are encouraged to strengthen their academic and analytical skills through close collaboration with FDD scholars and experts. The organization offers stipends and can assist students seeking academic credit; however, stipend eligibility requirements must be met. FDD provides both hybrid and remote internship options.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is recommended that interested candidates submit applications early. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Middle East Research Program

The Middle East Research Program is seeking full-time and part-time interns. Interns will work closely with Dr. David Adesnik, FDD's director of research, and other members of the team to conduct research on a number of our critical projects related to Israel, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Projects tend to focus on regional developments, politics, international relations, economic relations, and national security. Those with an interest in the Middle East and foreign policy are strongly encouraged to apply. If there is a particular region of interest to you, please indicate that in your cover letter. The Research Department is looking for interns with research experience and strong writing capabilities. The ability to conduct research in a foreign language - particularly Persian (Farsi), Arabic, or Hebrew - is a big plus, but not required.

Eligibility

• Must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Should have a relevant course of study and have completed coursework in any of the following fields: International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics, Political Science. Computer science, and/or a relevant STEM field of study.
• Interns should have knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, as well as basic Excel skills.
• Must be able to commit to a minimum of 22 hours per week.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Application Materials Required

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover letter (Please review our website and include which FDD projects and issue areas resonate with you and why. Also indicate where you found this internship and your availability for the semester.)
3. Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages)
4. Unofficial transcript copy

Please specify the department(s) for which you would like to be considered (feel free to indicate preferences) in your cover letter. While you may use the same cover letter for multiple positions, please submit a separate application for each position of interest. Incomplete applications will not be considered.