Spring 2024, Research Internship - Alliance for Securing Democracy

Reports To: Program Assistant, Alliance for Securing Democracy
Job Summary:
The Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (ASD at GMF) is seeking trainees for Spring 2024 to assist with research on autocratic actors' attempts to undermine democracies. Trainees will be responsible for tracking and compiling research on developments in this area, including real-time events and policy debates in Europe and the United States. They may also be assigned to work on specific projects run by ASD at GMF's senior fellows.
Trainees will benefit from exposure to GMF's network, and will gain valuable research, analysis, and writing experiences. Traineeships will be a mix of in-person and remote work, and trainees must maintain an address in the Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland area.
Trainees are paid $17.00 an hour and are offered an ideal opportunity to acquire substantive professional experience for those interested in a career in public policy or international affairs.
Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Compiling research on malign actors' attempts to undermine democracies, including in-depth looks at the range of tools used to weaken democratic institutions by state actors like China, Russia, and Iran.
• Tracking and cataloguing autocratic use of information manipulation, cyber operations, malign finance, economic coercion, and civil society subversion across the transatlantic space.
• Contributing to ASD's research and tracking of foreign attempts to interfere in upcoming elections across the transatlantic space.
• Providing research and writing support for ASD fellows and products, including the weekly newsletter and daily news clips.
• Producing summaries of hearings and events relevant to ASD's work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Excellent analytic and writing skills and previous research experience.
• Familiarity with and interest in autocratic efforts to undermine democratic institutions, alliances, and societies.
• Fluency in English is required; Mandarin, Farsi, or European language(s) are preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Comfortable multi-tasking and working independently.
• Graduate or undergraduate student pursuing a degree in International Relations, Regional Studies, Security Studies, or a related field-or a recent graduate of such a program.
• Previous experience in a think tank, foundation, NGO, government body, media outlet, or similar organization preferred.
• Strong interest in democracy, national security, disinformation, US-Russia/China relations. Familiarity with artificial intelligence and related policy issues a plus.

Start and Length of Traineeship:

• Preferred starting date: January 2024
• Preferred time commitment: 25 hours per week, Monday-Friday between 9 AM to 5 PM (EST preferred)
• Compensation: Trainees are paid at an hourly rate of $17.00 per hour
• Residency: Trainees must maintain a local address in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia and be eligible to work in the United States

GMF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.