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Internships @ the Woodrow Wilson Center
The Woodrow Wilson Center has two different types of internship programs:
Research Assistants
Program/Staff Interns
Research Assistant Internships
Please Note: Because of the large number of applicants, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please do not contact to confirm the receipt of your application. If you would like to confirm the receipt of your application, please mail it with a tracking number or delivery confirmation.
Interviewed candidates will be contacted within 3-4 weeks of the prescribed deadline. However, we may receive last minute intern requests from scholars. Research assistant positions are open until filled.
The majority of the interns at the Woodrow Wilson Center serve as research assistants or scholar interns for visiting scholars. Research assistants are talented students from universities around the country who combine part-time hours (12-15 per week) at the Center with their studies and with other activities. A position as a research assistant is particularly appropriate for a student planning to move on to graduate studies, or for students wishing to develop a deeper understanding of their field of study. In addition to assisting with research, interns have the opportunity to network with experts in their chosen fields.
The Center has at least 50 research interns at any one time, many of whom are replaced at the end of each academic term. Most research assistants do not receive a stipend. A modest stipend may be available if the student is not receiving academic credit.
Activities
Most scholars who come to the Wilson Center spend their time carrying out research, writing books, and making public presentations. Research assistants have the unique opportunity to work directly with these experts, as they examine issues of contemporary public policy or explore topics that provide the historical context behind today’s public policy debates. Most research assistants at the Center work with university professors who are scholars at the Wilson Center while on leave from their home institutions. Other assistants may be assigned to journalists, present and former government officials (such as diplomats and ambassadors) or, occasionally, to scholars from the private sector. Click here for a list of Spring 2010 scholars.
In support of the scholars, research assistants spend much of their time searching for information, using online academic databases or other publications. They often perform other duties, as well, such as proofreading, editing, critiquing, checking references, summarizing research materials, locating inter-library loan materials, and helping with software or presentational tasks. There may be some administrative tasks involved like copying or filing, but such tasks will be limited. Consequently, a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to work with a minimum of supervision are strong assets. Foreign language skills are sometimes useful.
While at the Center, all interns are encouraged to go beyond their particular internship responsibilities and to attend our many panel discussions, conferences, symposia, and other meetings. Interns are also welcome to join staff and scholars during some social events.
Eligibility
Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be a current, recent (within one calendar year), and/or have been accepted to enter an advanced degree program. Most interns are of at least senior undergraduate level, though strongly qualified juniors will be considered. Graduate students are eligible to apply.
Foreign students are eligible, but they must hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa and appropriate work authorization especially if they are receiving compensation for the internships. The Wilson Center does not sponsor visas. All foreign students must obtain written permission from their Designated School Official or Responsible Visa Officer at their university stating that they are in valid immigration status and eligible to do an internship at the Center.
Typical research assistants are students of political science; U.S. government/politics; international relations; history (including US history); foreign languages; international affairs; regional studies; economics; public policy; security studies; journalism and similar disciplines, though students of many other fields of study have sometimes been selected. New scholars are constantly arriving at the Wilson Center, and it can be difficult to predict what specific projects will be carried out in the future. For that reason, all interested students are encouraged to apply.
Deadlines
Please note the following deadlines:
For internships beginning in
| | | | | | Deadline for application | | January | | | | | | November 2nd | | May/June | | | | | | March 12th | | September | | | | | | July 12th |
All materials should be in or postmarked by 11:59 PM EDT on the prescribed deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Process
To apply, applicants will need to submit ONE COMPLETE application package to our Internship Coordinator by mail or email. Mailed applications are preferred. A hard copy will ensure that there are no technical difficulties when opening electronic files. The application materials include:- a completed WWICS Internship Application Form
- Cover Letter (indicating academic interests or areas of interest)
- Current Resume (indicating relevant coursework); if you are mailing your application, please send 2 copies of your resume
- 3-5 page Writing Sample or excerpt of a recent research paper with separate Works Cited page
- 2 letters of recommendation (do not have to be sealed by recommender); highlighting the applicant’s writing, research, and/or language skills would be useful
- Transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable)
If you are submitting your application by email, attached files should be in Word 2003 compatible or PDF formats. A comprehensive PDF file is encouraged while multiple emails with separate attachments are unacceptable. Please direct your complete application materials to our Internship Coordinator in ONE EMAIL with your name in the subject line: internships@wilsoncenter.org. (This email address is only for research assistant internship applications and NOT for staff internship applications).
If your university prefers to send official recommendations or transcripts separately, then the school may mail them to:
Ms. Krishna Aniel
Internship Coordinator and Recruitment Specialist
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC. 20004-3027
Program/Staff Internships
The Wilson Center also recruits interns to work in its various program, administrative, and press offices. These interns work alongside the Wilson Center staff and who have an interest in, coursework related to, and/or experience working on a variety of issues consistent with the work of our various offices, programs and projects.
The Center’s staff internship appointments are generally made consistent with academic semesters (i.e., Fall, Spring and Summer/three to four months); although appointments are made throughout the year for periods of varying length. No internship will exceed one year in duration.
These internships are designed to provide the individuals selected with the opportunity for practical experience in an environment that successfully mixes academic study with public policy. The intern will gain valuable experience and, depending on the office, assignments might include: conference organization; library and internet research; assistance with the preparation of publications and/or outreach materials; and/or administrative assignments in support of Center activities. Internships also provide opportunities for those selected to attend events within the Wilson Center and around Washington.
Successful applicants should have: strong research and/or administrative skills; be detail-oriented; be able to work independently and collectively as part of group; and, be currently enrolled in an undergraduate/graduate degree program, a recent graduate (within one calendar year), and/or have been accepted to enter an advanced degree program. Some of our international programs might require candidates to possess a working knowledge of a foreign language.
The Center offers both paid and unpaid staff internships. The number of paid internships is limited. As a general rule, offices are looking for individuals who are willing to devote 10 - 20 hours per week. For those seeking paid internships with the Center’s staff offices, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires employers to hire only individuals who are eligible to work in the United States. An individual selected for a paid internship will be expected to present proper evidence establishing employability prior to being appointed.
For a list of available program and staff offices seeking intern applicants, please see our Current Openings. There are slightly different applications and deadlines and one must apply directly to a program or office. (Please do NOT send your staff internship applications to internships@wilsoncenter.org. This email address is for research assistant internship applications).
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