Education: Internships

Washington, DC Nonproliferation Internships

Monterey Institute of International Studies
Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Washington, DC Office

Updated: April 15, 2008

The Washington, DC, office of the Monterey Institute's Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) is looking for energetic, academically accomplished individuals to support the work of the office as paid, part-time or full-time interns. Several interns will be selected to work in the Washington office for periods of up to five months, usually coinciding with the academic calendar. The program affords interns the opportunity to work alongside recognized experts on nonproliferation and to sharpen both their substantive knowledge of the field and their research/writing skills.

Based in Monterey, CA, CNS was established in 1989 to conduct research and training on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. With more than 40 specialists and over 50 graduate student research assistants, the Center is the largest non-governmental organization in the field. The Washington, DC, office of CNS began operation in February 1996. Its primary focus is to expand upon the outreach efforts of CNS in the nation's capital and to support CNS staff and faculty with data collection and research tasks. The office has a full-time staff of eight, augmented by two to three student interns.

Intern duties, undertaken in close collaboration with CNS permanent staff, include:

  • Research and drafting of articles and reports on missile and nuclear, chemical and biological weapons nonproliferation issues, including export controls, international organizations, and weapons-of-mass destruction terrorism;

  • Monitoring and reporting events occurring in the Executive Branch, Congress, and the media;

  • Collecting of relevant documents and testimony;

  • Assisting with general administrative and outreach activities of the CNS Washington office.

Interns may also have the opportunity to publish articles under their own names or as collaborators with permanent CNS staff members.

Requirements: Applicants for this position should at least be in their final year of undergraduate studies. Knowledge of international security, nonproliferation and/or WMD terrorism issues is highly desirable. Proficiency in Russian or Arabic and basic HTML skills are a plus.

Wage: $10-$13 hour depending on experience.

Hours: Up to 20 hours/week for full-time students attending classes; up to 37.5 hours for applicants able to intern on a full-time schedule.

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall/Winter
    Priority Deadline: July 1
    Final Deadline: July 15

  • Winter/Spring
    Priority Deadline: November 1
    Final Deadline: November 15

  • Summer
    Priority Deadline: April 1
    Final Deadline: April 15

Application packets must include a letter of interest describing your background in arms control, nonproliferation, and/or WMD terrorism; resume; a letter of recommendation; and an unofficial copy of your transcript. Cover letter should clearly indicate hours per week available and term of internship desired. For further information, please contact leah.kuchinsky[at]miis.edu.

Send application materials to:

    Internship Program
    Attn: Selection Committee
    Monterey Institute of International Studies
    1400 K Street, NW, Suite 450,
    Washington, DC 20005 USA


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