Brookings Institution Research Internship
The Brookings Institution Research Internship is part of the broader Brookings Internship Program, offering paid opportunities for degree-seeking students to work within one of five research programs: Governance Studies, Economic Studies, Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development, and Brookings Metro. Interns spend approximately 12 weeks assisting leading experts with background research, data gathering and cleaning, statistical analysis, literature reviews, and other tasks related to public policy research. The program provides pre-professional experience, career exploration, skill development, attendance at think tank events, professional workshops, and networking opportunities with staff and other interns. Positions are hybrid (requiring at least one day per week in the DC office) or remote (with state restrictions), and pay an hourly rate of $18.00, requiring a minimum of 20-30 hours per week during business hours.
Interns gain exposure to all stages of research projects, from formulating questions and surveying literature to data manipulation, regressions, and creating tables/figures. Specific foci vary by research program, such as emerging markets, monetary policy, migration, economic mobility, or industrial policy. The program emphasizes practical application of academic knowledge in a professional think tank environment, with opportunities for hybrid or remote work (U.S. location required, excluding certain states for remote). All interns undergo a background check and contribute to meaningful policy work alongside world-class experts.
Eligibility Requirements
- Current undergraduate students (particularly juniors/seniors) and master's/graduate students (PhD students not eligible)
- Occasionally recent graduates (within one year of graduation, if specified in posting)
- Demonstrated interest in public policy, economics, or related fields; relevant skills like statistics, econometrics, programming (e.g., Stata, R, Python), Excel
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- U.S. work authorization; international students eligible if F-1/J-1 with OPT/CPT eligibility (no new visa sponsorship)
- Must be located in the U.S. during internship; remote not available in AK, CA, CO, HI, IL, ME, MI, OR, RI, WA
- Current/previous Brookings interns not eligible
- Application requires cover letter, resume, transcript (unofficial OK), optional writing sample; finalists provide 2 references or letters.
For thorough eligibility and selection information, visit the official website or contact the organizers directly.