Fall 2025, Research Internship, Center on Economic Security and Opportunity, Economic Studies

Overview (Job ID: 2025-3655)

This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students pursuing a masters degree and recent graduates (individuals applying no more than one calendar year from their graduation year)] with an interest in economics or a fundamentally related field. to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions.

This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.00, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 25 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule (full-time availability preferred). 

To learn more about Brookings research programs, click here.

Position Location: This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. This is a hybrid opportunity. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Work location cannot be in any of the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.  Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship.

Responsibilities

The Center for Economic Security and Opportunity (CESO) produces data-driven, non-partisan analysis to address challenging U.S. social policy questions. This internship is an opportunity for students to explore the economics of education, immigration, and the U.S. safety net within a professional research environment. This position requires a strong foundation in the principles of quantitative analysis and is best suited for junior or senior undergraduate students in economics or in a related field like mathematics, statistics, or public policy.

Applicants should expect a range of responsibilities, broadly defined under the following categories:

Literature review and writing: Intern will assist with collecting, summarizing, and critically evaluating research.

Data cleaning and analysis: Intern will be expected to collect, clean, and analyze data and create graphs and tables for papers, policy memos, presentations, and other products. Please note that prior experience with STATA is a prerequisite for the CESO internship.

Event Staffing: Interns may help prepare materials for events and work at various aspects of the event, such as registration.

Administrative: The applicant should be prepared to help with general office support, assist with special projects, and perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education/Knowledge/Skills

Successful applicants will have: Completed at least two years of study toward an undergraduate degree in economics or a fundamentally related field. Taken introductory statistics, microeconomics, and macroeconomics; successful completion of an econometrics course is very strongly recommended. Achieved proficiency in STATA and Microsoft Excel. Strong writing and proofreading skills. A collaborative mindset, a commitment to accuracy, and a sincere desire to explore CESO’s areas of research.

Additional Information

This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings.

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit your resume as instructed and add your cover letter as an attachment when you apply. You are required to submit/attach a separate cover letter for each internship application. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals.  Please address your cover letter to Hiring Manager.

Please note that a cover letter is required; incomplete applications will not be considered.

If selected as a finalist for the internship, you will be required to submit two letters of recommendation or provide two professional references.  

Applications will be accepted until June 22, 2025. Applications not completed and submitted by the application deadline date will not be considered. Your application is considered complete when you receive an email confirming that your application was successfully submitted.

As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s).

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.