Spring 2027, Research Internship, Center for Technology Innovation, Governance Studies (Job ID 2026-3913)

Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!

Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.  

Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events.  In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution. 

This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students with an interest in technology policy to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.40, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 20 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.

To learn more about Brookings research programs, click here.

Interns will have an opportunity to learn a variety of research skills such as summarizing scholarly literature, collecting and manipulating data, attending events, and editing written products. Research topics include but are not limited to artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, privacy, mass communications, and digital inclusion.

Please be advised that Brookings is currently implementing a multi-year strategic plan that includes changes to our organizational structure. As this work continues, the program associated with this internship may change between the time of application and the internship start date. While the program may change, the work/research area described in this posting and the team associated with that work are expected to remain the same. Candidates will be informed of any relevant updates during the recruitment process and prior to the start of the internship.

Undergraduate student (who has completed their sophomore year) from any major; inter-disciplinary backgrounds are a plus. We welcome applications from majors in the social sciences and humanities as well as the natural sciences and engineering fields, including computer and data science. Recent college graduates and graduate students are also eligible to apply. Students with strong writing and research skills (quantitative or qualitative) preferred.

A successful intern is someone who learns quickly, is highly motivated, and wants to learn how to conduct policy research. We will closely review applications from candidates who signal a keen interest in any topic at the intersection of public policy and science, technology, and innovation. This position requires excellent verbal and written communication, time-management and organizational skills, and ability to synthesize technical details from multiple sources.

This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings.

As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s).

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.