Internships and Career Advice

Internship opportunities with the Middle East Program and advice for job seekers in Middle East policy

 

Internships

 

The Middle East Program may take on full-time, paid interns in the spring, summer, or fall. Any internship listings will be posted on https://careers.csis.org/. The Middle East Program’s analysis focuses on the drivers of change in the region. We strongly encourage interested candidates to review our Advice for Job Seekers in Middle East Policy and the requirements provided herewith before submitting your application for an internship with the CSIS Middle East Program. Candidates are also encouraged to read an interview Dr. Jon B. Alterman gave to the editorial board of New Perspectives in Foreign Policy, a journal by and for the enrichment of young professionals at CSIS, in January 2015. In the interview, he discusses his career in academia, government, and the think tank world. Read the interview here.

 

Research Internship

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Interns have substantive responsibilities. Essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: 

  • Compiling research briefs and literature reviews for senior fellows and research staff; 
  • Briefing the program director weekly; 
  • Observing or listening to events remotely and writing event summaries;
  • Pitching and researching articles for the Middle East Program’s monthly newsletter; 
  • Assisting with program events and some administrative tasks; 
  • Assisting with outreach efforts. 

 

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Completion or near completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher in Middle East studies,  international affairs, political science, or a related field; 
  • Minimum of a 3.5 GPA on a U.S. scale or equivalent; 
  • Strong demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the Middle East; 
  • Demonstrated research skills; 
  • Outstanding written and oral communication skills; 
  • Zest for challenging assignments that demand creativity; 
  • Working knowledge of Arabic, Persian, and/or French strongly preferred with an emphasis on reading and listening skills. 

 

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. 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.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resumé, a writing sample of up to five double-spaced pages, and all college transcripts at https://careers.csis.org/. Writing samples should demonstrate the ability to research and write policy-relevant work on the region. Two letters of recommendation should also be sent to middleeaststudies@csis.org.