Fall 2020 Conventional Defense Program Internship
The Conventional Defense Program at the Stimson Center seeks highly motivated candidates for a full- or part-time 20-40 hours per week, unpaid internship for the fall semester.
The Conventional Defense program examines issues surrounding the international trade in conventional weapons. The international arms trade impacts all aspects of international relations, as countries around the world buy and sell weapons to advance their foreign policy, national security, and economic interests. Yet the transfer and use of conventional weapons which range from small arms to drones, combat aircraft, warships, and battle tanks come with inherent risks. The global arms trade is too often poorly regulated and irresponsibly managed, creating an environment that in many cases increases the extent and deadliness of armed conflicts, limits economic prosperity, and contributes to human rights abuses and humanitarian harm around the world.
The Conventional Defense program at the Stimson Center seeks to reduce the risks and minimize harm associated with the global arms trade by looking closely at the tools of conflict themselves. The program promotes long-term stability and security by ensuring responsible arms transfer policies and advancing transparent and accountable processes guiding arms transfer decisions.
The program is currently seeking an intern interested in learning more about these issues and gaining hands-on policy research experience.
This internship is unpaid.
The Conventional Defense program is currently engaged in the following projects in order to raise the profile of conventional arms issues in the public discourse, promote responsible policies within the United States, and advance international norms and standards to ensure responsibility, transparency, and accountability in the global legal arms trade:
- Examining the humanitarian and human rights impacts of U.S. arms transfers and security assistance
- Supporting implementation of the global Arms Trade Treaty
- Developing appropriate international standards for armed drones
- Preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers
DUTIES
Responsibilities for the Conventional Defense intern include, but are not limited to the following:
- Conducting qualitative and quantitative research and analysis on issues related to the global arms trade
- Drafting backgrounders, memos, and/or issue briefs, and editing program publications
- Helping coordinate internal and external events
- Attending and reporting on briefings and events hosted by relevant government agencies, Congress, academic institutions, and other non-governmental organizations
- Preparing an independent research project and presenting to Stimson staff
- Providing other programmatic and administrative support as needed
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
At Stimson, we are committed to professional development. In addition to a variety of weekly programmatic and institutional events, we host a regular development series specifically for interns. This is one of many opportunities for interns to interact with Stimson management and senior researchers, leaders in the public and private sectors, and other individuals who will help interns broaden their interests and skill sets.
QUALIFICATIONS
Generally, strong candidates for this position will have the following qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, an undergraduate or graduate program
- Interest in the international arms trade, U.S. security assistance, drones and international law, and/or multidisciplinary approaches to security challenges
- Strong research and analysis skills, including writing and editing
- Excellent attention to detail
- Full-time or part-time availability
Encouraging diversity is one of Stimson's core values. As such, we will strive to maximize gender, racial, ethnic, and all other forms of workforce diversity in our hiring process.
Applicants must be able to commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week. Preference may be given to those available 30+ hours per week for a minimum of 15 weeks. Please submit your resume, cover letter, and writing sample as a PDF.
This is an unpaid experience; please consult with your academic faculty if it is eligible for academic credit.