INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Spring Intern: Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility

CompanyAEI
LocationWashington
Work ModeOn Site
PostedNovember 26, 2025
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
Interns will work closely with COSM scholars and staff to research and promote policies that improve opportunity and mobility for low-income Americans. They will retrieve and analyze datasets, assist with data visualization projects, curate content for a biweekly newsletter, and perform other research and writing tasks.
Internship Type
other
Company Size
938
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
Who we are: The American Enterprise Institute is a public policy think tank dedicated to defending human dignity, expanding human potential, and building a freer and safer world. The work of our scholars and staff advances ideas rooted in our belief in democracy, free enterprise, American strength and global leadership, solidarity with those at the periphery of our society, and a pluralistic, entrepreneurial culture. How we do it: We are committed to making the intellectual, moral, and practical case for expanding freedom, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening the free enterprise system in America and around the world. Our work explores ideas that further these goals, and AEI scholars take part in this pursuit with academic freedom. AEI operates independently of any political party and has no institutional positions. Our scholars’ conclusions are fueled by rigorous, data-driven research and broad-ranging evidence. Our work: Our scholars not only engage in research that focuses on today’s most critical challenges but also look ahead to ideas and issues that have yet to be widely recognized. AEI scholars pursue innovative, independent work across a wide array of subjects. From economics, education, health care, and poverty to foreign and defense studies, public opinion, politics, society, and culture, our experts drive the competition of ideas.
About the Role

Overview

The American Enterprise Institute’s Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility (COSM) seeks two driven, research-oriented interns for spring 2026. The interns will work closely with COSM scholars and staff to research, identify, and promote policies that improve opportunity and mobility for low-income Americans. COSM scholars study the determinants of economic mobility and human flourishing in America through empirically driven and policy-informing research.

 

The COSM interns will interact with a variety of research and policy areas, including federal safety-net programs such as cash welfare, food assistance, and unemployment insurance; trends in social capital in America; and determinants of economic mobility and human flourishing. These interns will be expected to retrieve and analyze datasets, assist with data visualization projects, curate content for a biweekly newsletter, and perform other research and writing tasks. Candidates who are able to participate in the program on an in-person basis for 25-40 hours a week are encouraged to apply.

Successful applicants should have:

  • Interest or experience studying anti-poverty policy.
  • Experience studying economics and statistics—particularly as it relates to public policy.

About AEI Internships

 

AEI internships offer a unique opportunity for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates to gain experience in research, writing, business, and communications at one of the nation’s leading think tanks. Competitive candidates will generally have a GPA of 3.5 or higher from a top-ranking college or university. AEI’s internship program runs for 12 weeks and all related programming will take place in Washington, DC. Please see the internship program home page for additional information about the program.

 

The start date for the spring program is January 20th.

Key Skills
ResearchData AnalysisData VisualizationPublic PolicyEconomicsStatisticsWritingCommunicationAnti-Poverty PolicySocial MobilityHuman FlourishingFederal Safety-Net ProgramsContent CurationNewsletter ProductionSocial CapitalEconomic Mobility
Categories
Social ServicesEducationData & AnalyticsGovernment & Public SectorScience & Research