Brookings Institute Research Internships

Opportunity Description:


The Brookings Internship Program is an opportunity for degree-seeking students to engage in career exploration and development, as well as a chance to learn new skills. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide a pre-professional, meaningful and practical work experience related to the student’s field of study or career interest. Internships may be within a Brookings research program (e.g., Governance Studies, Global Economy and Development, Brookings Metro, Economic Studies, or Foreign Policy) or one of Brookings’s central business units (e.g., Human Resources, Executive Office, Finance, Development, Facilities, Communications). The type of work varies by intern position, and may include projects related to research, administrative tasks, communications, and more. Interns are embedded within the day-to-day work at Brookings and alongside the curated learning experiences for the intern cohort, they are encouraged to partake in internal and external events, local networking opportunities, social and community programming, staff professional development, and may join employee-led professional networks and affinity groups during their internship. 

All Brookings interns are paid, either by Brookings or via external partnership1 coordinated in advance of their start. The typical internship lasts 12 weeks and can be hybrid (located in the DC Metropolitan area; requiring at least one day in office based on research program’s or business unit’s schedule) or remote. Interns are required to be physically located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.

Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements: 

Brookings internships are open to: 

  • Current undergraduate and graduate students
  • Individuals of any background and level of experience
  • International students who have a visa status sponsored by their college or university, or are authorized to work in the U.S.

Application Process: 

When applying for an internship, you must submit:

  1. A resume and a cover letter 
  2. A copy of undergraduate/graduate official or unofficial transcripts
  3. If required in the position description: Writing sample
For more information on this opportunity, please contact: