Intern, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

Intern, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. With a staff of some 250 employees, including more than 120 analysts, CSIS addresses the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

The CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia (ERE) program aims to deepen understanding of Europe’s political, security, and economic evolution, its future global role, geopolitical developments in the circumpolar Arctic, implications of Russia’s foreign and defense policies for transatlantic security, and political and economic developments within Russia and Eurasia.

This research internship will concentrate on the ERE program’s Russia portfolio, specifically assisting with a project funded by the Russia Strategic Initiative, U.S. European Command. The project investigates Russia’s key defense firms, analyzing internal and external factors impacting production rates and product quality, alongside Moscow’s overall defense industrial manufacturing capacity.

The internship is scheduled tentatively from February 2, 2026, to May 29, 2026. It will be part-time, approximately 20 hours per week, and can be hybrid, allowing for both virtual and in-person components based on the candidate’s location and availability.

Hired candidates will receive hourly pay commensurate with experience: $18.00/hour for current undergraduate students, $19.00/hour for those with a bachelor’s degree, and $20.00/hour for those with a master’s degree.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide relevant research, writing, and editing support to multiple staff members within the highlighted research project.
• Discover, clean, organize, and analyze various Russian-language data sources.
• Monitor relevant Russian-language paper and press releases.
• Perform ad hoc requests and other duties as necessary in support of staff members within the highlighted research project.

Knowledge, Education, and Experience

• Currently enrolled in a thematically relevant master’s or bachelor’s program (3rd or 4th-year undergraduate students preferred).
• Interest or experience in Russian domestic and foreign policies, Russian defense industry, and/or Russian economy.
• Advanced knowledge of Russian language is required.
• Knowledge of different data scraping and processing tools (R Studio, Python, etc.) is preferred.
• Excellent record in an academic and research environment.
• Strong writing, editing, communication, and time management skills.

Physical Requirements and Work Conditions

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit (1) a one-page resume as a PDF; and (2) a one-page cover letter as a PDF, explaining your interest in the research internship and highlighting relevant language, regional, and thematic experience. Please submit these materials by December 30, 2025.

Incomplete applications, applications exceeding the page limit or diverging from the required format (PDF), and applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

To submit an application for this position, click the “Apply” button below, and you will be redirected to our secure recruitment portal.

About Us

CSIS is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center’s 220 full-time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and develop policy initiatives that look to the future and anticipate change.

Key skills/competency

• Russian Language
• Research Analysis
• Data Analysis
• Policy Research
• Geopolitical Analysis
• Defense Industry
• Writing Skills
• Editing
• Time Management
• International Relations