Applications for Fall 2017 internships at the Institute for the Study of War are now being accepted. You may submit your application immediately. We will consider applications on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. We will begin considering applications immediately.
For all
positions, we greatly prefer full-time availability although part-time interns
may also be accepted depending on qualifications.
All internships
are unpaid.
ISW does not sponsor visas of any kind for international students.
The fall start dates will be in late August and early September.
To submit your
application, please email your cover letter, resume, a brief writing sample (5
pages maximum, excerpts from longer pieces are acceptable), and unofficial
transcript to internships@understandingwar.org.
Please format the
subject line of your email: FIRST NAME LAST NAME
Please submit all
documents in pdf form and submit your resume and cover letter as one document.
Documents submitted in word format will NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Please only
submit one application – if you are interested in multiple positions, please
list them in rank order at the top of your cover letter. Please also list these
in rank order at the top of your email submission.
Why work for ISW:
ISW believes ground realities must drive the formulation of strategy and
policy. In pursuit of this principle, ISW conducts detailed, open-source
intelligence analysis to provide the most accurate information on current
conflicts and security threats. We offer interns a chance to train on work with
cutting-edge technologies employed in business and in the intelligence
community. Interns at ISW will have an unparalleled opportunity to conduct
research that directly informs policy-makers on some of the most pressing
issues facing American national security. Our interns work directly with
analysts and have many opportunities to engage with Institute leadership on the
subjects of their research. ISW offers its interns to be at the front lines of
military research and policy, tackling the issues that are in the headlines.
ISW has published the work of its interns and hired many onto its staff.
Research Internship – Iraq Project
ISW’s Iraq
Project is its original, flagship program and has an outstanding history and
reputation. ISW publishes regular research reports on Iraq in order to
inform policy makers and journalists in Washington, DC, as well as the general
public. The Iraq program examines the resurgence of the Islamic State of
Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), the spillover between Iraq and Syria, Iraq’s internal
politics, Iraq's military and paramilitary organizations, and Iraq’s foreign
relations. Interns will provide critical assistance to our researchers. Interns
will be trained to use innovative technologies to assist their research.
Interns are expected to conduct research under the guidance of Research
Analysts and Assistants; work in conjunction with other members of the research
staff to produce research briefs and analysis; assist with editing,
documenting, and supporting materials for products of the Institute; assist
with the planning, preparation, and execution of public events and private
briefings of employees of the Institute; and conduct other activities in
support of Institute projects.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate with
coursework in a field of study related to ISW's core mission and research
agenda. Graduate-level coursework in a related field is a plus. Interns with
the ability to read and conduct research in Arabic are highly desired, as is
knowledge of Iraq. Candidates should have excellent writing and analytical
skills, and the ability to conduct research using social media and other open
sources. Ideal candidates should also have the ability to conduct tasks in a
timely and efficient manner. The candidate must also possess an interest
in and enthusiasm for ISW’s research agenda and mission.
Iraq Interns
report to the Iraq Research Analysts and Research Manager.
Research Internship – Afghanistan Project
ISW’s Afghanistan
Project publishes regular research reports on Afghanistan’s security situation
and political developments in order to inform policy makers and journalists in
Washington, DC, as well as the general public. The Afghanistan program’s Threat
Assessment Map examines the Taliban’s operations and campaigns as well as the
growth of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in Afghanistan. The
program also studies the intricate dynamics of Afghan politics, warlords, and
powerbrokers. Interns will provide critical assistance to our researchers.
Interns are expected to conduct research under the guidance of the Research
Analysts; work in conjunction with other members of the research staff to
produce research briefs and analysis; assist with editing, documenting, and
supporting materials for products of the Institute; assist with the planning,
preparation, and execution of public events and private briefings of employees
of the Institute; and conduct other activities in support of Institute projects.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate with
coursework in a field of study related to the ISW's core mission and research
agenda. Graduate-level coursework in a related field is a plus, as is
familiarity with Afghanistan. Candidates should have excellent writing and
analytical skills, and the ability to conduct research. Ideal candidates should
also have the ability to conduct tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
The candidate must also possess an interest in and enthusiasm for ISW’s
research agenda and mission. Interns with the ability to read the Farsi, Dari,
or Pashto language and to conduct research in one of those languages are highly
desired.
Interns report to
the Internship Coordinator and Research Manager.
Research Intern—Syria Project
ISW’s Syria
project has become a leading source of innovative analysis and information
about the Syrian Civil War. ISW publishes regular research reports and maps on
the conflict in Syria in order to inform policy makers and journalists in
Washington, DC, as well as the general public. The Syria program examines the
dynamics among domestic actors in the Syrian Civil War, including the regime
and the opposition; the role of foreign actors in the conflict, particularly
Russia and Iran; the activities of ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Syria; and spillover
into neighboring states, including Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. Interns will
provide critical assistance to our researchers. Interns will be trained to use
innovative technologies to assist their research, as Syrian social media is a
key source of information on this conflict. Interns are expected to conduct
research under the guidance of Research Analysts; work in conjunction with
other members of the research staff to produce research briefs and analysis;
assist with editing, documenting, and supporting materials for products of the
Institute; assist with the planning, preparation, and execution of public
events and private briefings of employees of the Institute; and conduct other
activities in support of Institute projects.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate
with coursework in a field of study related to the ISW's core mission and
research agenda. Graduate-level coursework in a related field is a plus, as is
familiarity with Syria. Candidates should have excellent writing and analytical
skills, and the ability to conduct research using social media and open
sources. Ideal candidates should also have the ability to conduct tasks in a
timely and efficient manner. The candidate must also possess an interest in and
enthusiasm for ISW’s research agenda and mission. Interns with the ability to
read and conduct research in Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, or Farsi are highly desired.
Syria Interns
report to the Research Analysts and Research Manager.
Research Intern—Egypt Security Project
ISW is expanding
its research into the conflict in Egypt in order to inform policy makers and
journalists in Washington, DC, as well as the general public. The project
examines the increasing footprint of ISIS in the Sinai as well as internal
political dynamics under Sisi’s rule. Interns will provide critical assistance
to our researchers. Interns are expected to conduct research under the guidance
of the Research Analysts and Assistants; work in conjunction with other members
of the research staff to produce research briefs and analysis; assist with
editing, documenting, and supporting materials for products of the Institute;
assist with the planning, preparation, and execution of public events and
private briefings of employees of the Institute; and conduct other activities
in support of Institute projects.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate
with coursework in a field of study related to the ISW's core mission and
research agenda. Work or academic experience in Egypt is also a plus.
Candidates should have excellent writing and analytical skills, and the ability
to conduct research independently. Ideal candidates should also have the
ability to conduct tasks in a timely and efficient manner. The candidate must
also possess an interest in and enthusiasm for ISW’s research agenda and
mission. Arabic language skills are mandatory.
Egypt interns
report to the Internship Coordinator and Research Manager.
Research Internship – Counterterrorism Team
ISW publishes
regular research reports on the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as
well as other terrorist networks in the Middle East in order to inform policy
makers and journalists in Washington, DC, as well as the general public. This
portfolio focuses upon ISIS’s network inside Iraq and Syria, in the immediate
region, and globally, and the research team produces regular maps and reports
tracking ISIS’s global campaign. Interns are expected to conduct research under
the guidance of Research Analysts and Assistants; work in conjunction with
other members of the research staff to produce research briefs and analysis;
assist with editing, documenting, and supporting materials for products of the
Institute; assist with the planning, preparation, and execution of public
events and private briefings of employees of the Institute; and conduct other
activities in support of Institute projects.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate with
military or intelligence experience and coursework in a field of study related
to the ISW's core mission and research agenda. Graduate-level coursework in a
related field or demonstrated network analysis experience is a plus. Candidates
should have excellent writing and analytical skills, the ability to conduct
research, and desire to use technology. Familiarity Palantir or other
analytical visualization software platforms is preferred. Ideal candidates
should also have the ability to conduct tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
The candidate must also possess an interest in and enthusiasm for ISW’s
research agenda and mission. Interns with the ability to read and conduct
research in Arabic are highly desired.
The
Counterterrorism Interns will report to the Research Analysts and
Research Manager.
Research Internship –Russia and Ukraine Project
ISW’s
Russia-Ukraine team focuses on innovative analysis and open-source research on
current and potential zones of conflict in Eastern Europe and Eurasia
developments in order to inform policy makers and journalists in Washington,
DC, as well as the general public. This project utilizes unclassified
information on military operations and political actors in order to provide
expert, in-depth analysis about security issues affecting the region, including
Russian intent and capabilities, the intent and capabilities of the Ukrainian
government, the potential for political crisis in Kyiv, and Russia’s ongoing
intervention in Syria. Interns will provide critical research and analytical assistance
to our team. Interns will be trained to use innovative technologies to assist
their research, and to gather information from social media as a key source of
information on this conflict in order to assist in this research. ISW will be
expanding a series of publications and graphical products to inform policy
makers and journalists in Washington, DC, as well as the general public.
Interns are expected to conduct research under the guidance of Research
Analysts and Assistance; work in conjunction with other members of the research
staff to produce research briefs and analysis; assist with editing,
documenting, and supporting materials for products of the Institute; assist
with the planning, preparation, and execution of public events and private
briefings of employees of the Institute; and conduct other activities in
support of Institute projects.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate
with coursework in a field of study related to the ISW's core mission and
research agenda. Graduate-level coursework in a related field is a plus, as is
familiarity with Ukraine and/or Russia. Candidates should have excellent
writing and analytical skills, and the ability to conduct research using social
media and open sources. Ideal candidates should also have the ability to
conduct tasks in a timely and efficient manner. The candidate must also possess
an interest in and enthusiasm for ISW’s research agenda and mission. Interns
with the ability to read and conduct research in Russian or Ukrainian are
highly desired.
Russia/Ukraine
Interns report to the Ukraine Research Analyst and Research Manager.
Turkish Linguist Internship
The Institute for
the Study of War is seeking motivated and experienced university students or
recent graduates to fill the position of Turkish Linguist Intern. The linguist
will be responsible for reviewing open source data in Turkish to support our
various research teams, with a focus on the Syrian conflict and Russo-Turkish
relations. The linguist will have the opportunity to collect and analyze data
from traditional and social media sources and will be trained to use analytic
software to better inform ISW’s already groundbreaking research. The linguist
should be a self-starter able to identify critical inflections and trends, but
(s)he will also have the opportunity to work under a research team.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate with
coursework in a field of study related to ISW's core mission and research
agenda. Graduate-level coursework in a related field is a plus. The ability to
read and conduct research in Turkish is mandatory. Candidates should have
excellent writing and analytical skills, and the ability to conduct research
using social media and other open sources. Ideal candidates should also have
the ability to conduct tasks in a timely and efficient manner. The
candidate must also possess an interest in and enthusiasm for ISW’s research
agenda and mission.
Farsi Linguist Internship
The Institute for
the Study of War is seeking motivated and experienced university students or
recent graduates to fill the position of Farsi Linguist Intern. The linguist
will be responsible for reviewing open source data in Farsi to support our
various research teams, with a focus on Iran’s role in the Syria conflict. The
linguist will have the opportunity to collect and analyze data from traditional
and social media sources and will be trained to use analytic software to better
inform ISW’s already groundbreaking research. The linguist should be a
self-starter able to identify critical inflections and trends, but (s)he will
also have the opportunity to work under a research team.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate or current undergraduate with
coursework in a field of study related to ISW's core mission and research
agenda. Graduate-level coursework in a related field is a plus. The ability to
read and conduct research in Farsi is mandatory. Candidates should have
excellent writing and analytical skills, and the ability to conduct research
using social media and other open sources. The candidate must also possess an
interest in and enthusiasm for ISW’s research agenda and mission. Ideal
candidates should also have the ability to conduct tasks in a timely and
efficient manner. Background knowledge of the Syrian Civil War and Iran’s use of
proxies in Syria and Iraq is not mandatory, but also a plus.
Press, Media, and Government Relations Internship
The Institute for
the Study of War is seeking motivated and experienced university students or
recent graduates to fill the position of Press, Media, and Government Relations
Intern.
The Press, Media,
and Government Relations Intern is responsible for assisting the External
Relations Department with updating ISW’s press and media tracker (excel
document), and helping to create material for a monthly newsletter. The Press,
Media, and Government Relations Intern will help assist the External Relations
Director with press inquiries including inquiries from major media news outlets
including and not limited to CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and The
New York Times. The Press, Media, and Government Relations intern will
contribute heavily to ISW’s mission of providing timely and accurate
information to policy-makers and war fighters. Among other duties, the Press,
Media, and Government Relations intern will be actively involved with
developing ISW’s outreach lists, coordinating events, and producing collateral
outreach materials.
Qualifications:
Candidates must be motivated, organized university students or recent graduates
with coursework in a related field. They should have experience with the
MS Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience handling
phone calls and responding to external inquiries is preferred though not
required. Familiarity with international and national security topics is
a plus. The applicant must possess excellent writing and editing
capabilities. Exceptional candidates will have commitment and interest in ISW's
core mission and values.
The Press,
Media, and Government Relations intern will report to the Director of External
Relations.
Development and Event
Management Internship
The Institute for the Study
of War is seeking a highly-motivated, organized, and creative university
student or recent graduate to fill the position of Development and Event
Management Intern for the 2017 Fall Semester. This position assumes
responsibility for assisting the Development Director and President in
initiating, implementing, and monitoring ISW’s development initiatives and
strategic partnerships. The Intern will play an important role in helping plan
and coordinate ISW’s two major hallmark events: ISW’s Annual Security
Conference in Washington D.C. and the President’s Circle Dinner in New York.
These events gather policy makers at the forefront of national security debate.
The Intern will also assist with the mission-critical tasks of researching and
developing potential strategic partnerships; drafting communications to
prospective and current donors; developing new marketing materials; maintaining
records and database information; and assisting the Development Director with
tasks as required.
This position offers a unique opportunity for individuals with excellent communication skills and an interest in business development to enhance their credentials and gain valuable marketing, business planning and strategy experience. It is the perfect opportunity for individuals who want to learn more about working for a non-profit, as well as the intelligence, defense and think-tank communities, and are looking to make an over-size impact on a growing and dynamic organization!
Qualifications: Current students or recent graduates with an interest in national security, non-profit management, event planning, and/or marketing are encouraged to apply. Strong candidates will also have a commitment to and interest in ISW’s mission.
The Intern will report to the Development Director.
This position offers a unique opportunity for individuals with excellent communication skills and an interest in business development to enhance their credentials and gain valuable marketing, business planning and strategy experience. It is the perfect opportunity for individuals who want to learn more about working for a non-profit, as well as the intelligence, defense and think-tank communities, and are looking to make an over-size impact on a growing and dynamic organization!
Qualifications: Current students or recent graduates with an interest in national security, non-profit management, event planning, and/or marketing are encouraged to apply. Strong candidates will also have a commitment to and interest in ISW’s mission.
The Intern will report to the Development Director.
Presidential Internship
The Institute for
the Study of War is seeking motivated, experienced, and creative university
students or recent graduates to fill the position of Presidential Intern.The Presidential Intern is responsible for
assisting the President of the Institute for the Study of War, Dr. Kimberly
Kagan, with a range of responsibilities in non-profit management. Past interns
to the president have conducted research projects, designed electronic material
for publication, assisted with event coordination, and participated in
development events. The Presidential Intern will have the ability to work
across different teams as well as attend some briefings and meetings with Dr.
Kagan. The Presidential Intern directly assists Dr. Kagan on a daily basis and
must be able to juggle responsibilities as well as be very organized and task
oriented.Candidates must be motivated and mature university students or recent
graduates with coursework in a field related to national security,
international relations, or history. Familiarity with international and
national security topics is required. They should have experience with
the MS Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience with InDesign
and Adobe Creative Suite is a plus as well. The successful applicant will
possess excellent writing and editing capabilities and have commitment and
interest in ISW's core mission and values.