Middle East Research Internship

The Quincy Institute seeks an intern to support the work of the Middle East program for spring semester 2027, with the possibility of renewal.

Quincy Institute is a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to promote ideas that move U.S. foreign policy away from endless war and toward vigorous diplomacy in the pursuit of international peace. It envisions a world where peace is the norm and war the exception. The Institute operates independently of any political party.

The Quincy Institute (QI) Internship Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates from diverse backgrounds to engage in career exploration and development.

The mission of QI's Internship Program is to provide students and recent graduates with a meaningful and practical work experience related to the student's field of study or career interest. Interns will have the opportunity to attend internal meetings, external as well as QI events online or in-person.

Interns will be able to work remotely or from the Quincy Institute's Washington, DC office. Please send a CV and short cover letter by December 2, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Primarily assists in researching issues related to U.S. foreign policy and military strategy in the Middle East and South Asia, with a particular focus on Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Iran, the Gulf states, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. This research will contribute to products that range from original policy research to rapid analysis to op-ed writing
• Provide research support to other Quincy Institute staff
• Closely follow the daily and weekly news cycle, tracking issues of relevance to ongoing research
• Assist in duties related to congressional outreach, communications, and tracking political developments relevant to ongoing research
• Demonstrate a keen interest in the foreign policy work of the Quincy Institute and an interest in working in a dynamic and ambitious environment
• Assist with general administrative work for the Quincy Institute

Requirements

• Knowledge of and interest in issues related to the greater Middle East area
• Familiarity with issues related to U.S. foreign policy and ongoing policy debates in the United States
• Familiarity with realism as a theory of international relations, military restraint, and restraint literature
• Candidates with fluency (not just proficiency) in Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Pashto, or Urdu will receive heightened consideration
• Strong understanding of economics or statistics preferred
• Enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program in political science, international relations, economics, law, or a related field in the social sciences or humanities, or be a recent graduate in aforementioned areas
• Strong writing and research skills, including basic familiarity with different writing guidelines (i.e. AP style) and citation styles (i.e. Chicago style)
• Proficient technical skills, including Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite applications
• Understanding of data analysis and presentation to include creating graphics, maps, and other charts

Compensation

$18.40 - $18.40 an hour. Salary is based on the minimum wage for Washington D.C. Average hours per week are 19-20 hours.

To Apply

To apply, candidates must submit a cover letter and CV/resume with relevant experience. Candidates should submit their application by close of business on December 2, 2026. We will reach out to the candidates that we feel are the best match for our needs via email.

About the Quincy Institute

The organization is a think tank and communications project that works to move the United States away from constant war and domination toward greater reliance on diplomacy and cooperation – to benefit the people of the United States and the world.