Deadline: October 15, 2025; February 15, 2026
Program Overview
As a research intern, you will embark on a rigorous educational journey guided by the Doctoral Candidate Research Advisors and Master’s Student Research Assistants serving as research mentors. This role provides comprehensive academic resources, expert lectures, and specialized workshops designed to enhance your readiness for graduate studies. Faculty interaction is streamlined to enrich this experience, with opportunities to attend two class sessions per semester, ensuring hands-on learning and professional development under the mentorship of seasoned scholar-practitioners.
Intern Benefits
Upon successful completion of the Research Internship and Graduate Pathway Program, participants gain access to preferential consideration for IWP’s master’s degrees. Additionally, eligible interns will receive a $3,000 per semester intern scholarship, which can be applied directly toward tuition for the M.A. degree program. Merit-based scholarships are also available.
Key Responsibilities
Under the guidance of an IWP Research Advisor, interns will collaborate with a team of peers to conduct and complete a final research product. This initiative not only hones critical research skills but also provides an opportunity for the findings to be published. Interns will apply their deepened understanding of national security, international affairs, and intelligence in a practical, evaluative setting.
Additionally, interns are expected to engage in educational activities, attend all scheduled seminars, workshops, and guest lectures, complete assignments, collaborate on projects, utilize IWP scholar-practitioner guidance, participate in site visits, and support the IWP mission.
Qualifications
Candidates should be current juniors, seniors, or recent graduates of political science, international relations, security studies, or a related field, with demonstrated interest in national security, intelligence, and international affairs. Strong analytical, writing, research, and communication skills are required, along with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team in a demanding academic environment.
Spring 2026: Mid-January through March
- Deadline: October 15th, 2025
Summer 2026: Mid-May through July
- Deadline: February 15th, 2026