Intern - Project on Trade and Technology (Spring 2025)

 

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. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of approximately 250 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

 

The Project on Trade and Technology seeks one research intern to support our work. We examine the geopolitics of trade and technology, often focusing on issues relating to export controls and other trade tools such as outbound investment screening, global AI governance, critical and emerging technology, supply chain disruptions and resiliency, and international institutions governing these issues. As the world shifts towards an increasingly multipolar reality, crafting the right policies can better position the United States to capitalize on these changes, enhancing its national and economic security, while future-proofing its technology alliances. Much of the Project on Trade and Technology's work focuses on analyzing changes and events as they arise and developing policy suggestions that respond to America’s most pressing issues. 

 

The hired candidate will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience ($17.50/hour for current undergraduate hires, $18.50/hour for hires with a bachelor’s degree, and $19.50/hour for hires with a master’s degree).

 

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

 

• Work directly with the Project on Trade and Technology team on ongoing and future projects, including on the semiconductor industry, global technology standards, AI data centers, outbound investment screening, analysis of supply chains, climate change and trade, global economic governance, critical and emerging technologies, global AI governance, economic security, and tools of economic warfare.

• Conduct research and assist with writing reports and briefs on trade and technology topics.

• Produce written work in the form of blog posts and other short form pieces.

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships within CSIS and with other organizations under the guidance of the program.

• Identify, attend, and take notes at internal and external events relevant to the work of the project.

• Assist as needed with planning and hosting events for the program.

 

 

• Must be able to work full-time (30-40 hours a week) in-person at the CSIS office with the ability to work from home occasionally if needed. 

• Must be at least an undergraduate student with a junior standing or above, master’s student, or a recent graduate.

• Must have strong English-language writing and research skills and be detail-oriented under pressure.

• Should be critical and creative thinkers who thrive in an independent working environment with tight deadlines. Proactive problem solving and proper time management skills are essential.

• Strong economic, statistical, and quantitative analysis skills and experience in data visualization to support a research project examining semiconductor trends. 

• Must be able to function well as part of a friendly, small, and close-knit team. The ability to communicate efficiently and effectively is necessary.

• Practical and/or academic background in the following areas is desirable but not required:  

o International trade and U.S. trade policy

o Working knowledge of the semiconductor industry and China's tech landscape  

• Prior research experience, either within a class or a previous internship, is required.

 

 

 

This position will be based out of our Washington DC headquarters and is expected to be in-office. 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Interested applicants should submit a single combined PDF of their résumé, cover letter, and writing sample (3-5 pages) at https://careers.csis.org/. Applications which do not meet these requirements will not be considered.