Turkey Research Fall 2026 Internship

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD); Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 11,160 - 20,088; Part time

Job summary

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in Washington, DC offers internship opportunities within the Turkey Program. Interns work with the team on Ankara's domestic, security, and foreign policies and conduct research in Turkish.

Ideal candidates have prior research experience, knowledge of Turkish, and are able to commit at least 22 hours per week. FDD supports hybrid and remote options and encourages academic credit where eligible.

Qualifications

• Must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Should have a relevant course of study and coursework in IR, security studies, history, communications, journalism, international economics, political science, CS, or a relevant STEM field.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Assist with research on Ankara's domestic, security, and foreign policies.
• Support analysis of Turkey-related issues and regional influence.
• Prepare concise reports, briefings, and summaries for internal discussions.
• Collaborate with the Turkey Program team and senior fellows on current research topics.

Skills

Research experience

Turkish language (reading/writing)

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

IR / Security Studies / History / Communications / Journalism / International Economics / Political Science / CS / STEM coursework

Tools

Microsoft 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.

The Turkey Program

The Turkey Program is seeking a full-time or part-time intern. The intern will work closely with our Turkey team, including Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Sinan Ciddi, to assist with research on Ankara's domestic, security, and foreign policies, as well as its regional influence. Interns must have previous research experience and be able to conduct research in Turkish. Additional Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern languages, such as Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Kurdish, or Persian are a plus, but not required. If there is a particular Turkey-related issue of interest to you, please indicate that in your cover letter.

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

• Resume/CV
• 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.)
• Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages)
• 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.