Stimson Internship Program, Henry L. Stimson Center – Washington, D.C.

“The Stimson internship program offers a professional and educational experience in discovering the way in which non-profit organizations can contribute to the understanding of issues in international peace and security. Stimson offers unique internship opportunities based on the values of education, professionalism, and practical experience.

Based on Stimson’s commitment to professional development, expectations for interns are high. In return, interns can expect a challenging environment which will prepare them for full time employment in a professional setting.

Internships are volunteer experience only. All internships are unpaid (transportation may be reimbursable.) Applicants must be able to live and work legally in the United States.

Major responsibilities

Internships at Stimson focus on the areas of research, professional development, and project administration. Internships may include:

Proofreading, editing, and distributing Stimson publications
Writing brief summaries of activities in the news
Helping to maintain the Stimson website
Tracking specific issue areas in the media
Taking notes in meetings, both on and off-site
Project coordination
Working as a team with members of the Stimson staff and other interns
Administrative activities which will contribute to a fuller understanding of how non-profit organizations operate

Applicants should be highly motivated and sincere in their desire for an internship that is challenging and professional in nature. Interns can expect close and constant interaction with program staff, including their respective program directors. Intern supervisors are asked to prepare an evaluation of the intern’s performance at the close of the internship. The intern will also be encouraged to evaluate the internship program at Stimson and their individual experience.

Professional Development

In addition to weekly programmatic and institutional events, Stimson also hosts a regular professional development series for interns, allowing them the opportunity to interact with Stimson management and senior associates; leaders in the public (government agencies, NGOs, other think tanks, graduate universities) and private (defense, consulting firms) sector; and other individuals that will help the intern to expand his/her interests and skill set.

Recently, our interns have gone on to careers in the State Department, the Department of Defense, the United Nations, various think tanks, and other organizations. Others have chosen to continue their education at graduate programs, including those at Georgetown, SAIS at Johns Hopkins, etc.

Application

The application must include the following documents:

Resume
A cover letter explaining interest in the position, availability, and interest in a specific project or projects
A short writing sample (no more than 5 pages)

Please note: If you are interested in multiple programs, you must submit separate applications for each.

Applicants will be interviewed over the phone, Skype, or, when possible, in person. Due to the volume of applications received, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. The selection process takes approximately one month following the deadline.

Summer internships last from approximately June – September.

Available Internships