Cognitive Warfare Project Internship Spring 2027

About the Role

• Interns will support the new Cognitive Warfare Project (CWP) at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
• The project studies, analyzes, and visualizes adversary cognitive warfare against the United States and its allies.
• This is a full-time internship (five days per week), but part-time work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Interns will learn to analyze the cognitive domain and how it impacts policymaking, kinetic activities, and strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, process, analyze, and synthesize open-source intelligence (OSINT) relating to adversary cognitive campaigns.
• Support long-term research assignments.
• Potentially have valuable interactions with software partners who are transforming the national security space.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Demonstrated interest in:
• Cognitive and information warfare
• Disinformation/misinformation
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology
• International affairs
• Propaganda and media studies
• Demonstrated interest in national security or regional studies, particularly relating to Russia, Ukraine, Europe, or China.
• Excellent writing, editing, research, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to conduct complex tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
• Self-motivated, independent, creative, and capable of working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to and interest in the core mission and values of ISW.

Qualifications

• Preferably possess strong critical language capabilities in Russian, Ukrainian, or Mandarin.
• Experience conducting research using primary sources in a foreign language is a plus.
• Experience with data visualization tools, large data sets, AI, and data management systems are a plus.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and be physically present in the United States during their internship tenure.
• If attending a US university on a student visa, must be eligible for and obtain CPT authorization before beginning at ISW.

Internship Dates

• January 12, 2027, to May 14, 2027.

Application Information

• Upload resume, cover letter, and writing sample.
• Cover letter and writing sample combined: no longer than five pages.
• Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until November 13, 2026.

Scholarship Opportunity

• Up to a $1,000 monthly living stipend.
• To be considered, upload a scholarship application as part of the internship application.
• Scholarship application requires a 2- to 3-page cover letter answering specific questions about internship choice, qualifications, national security concerns, career goals, scholarship need, and financial aid status.
• Scholarship is classified as taxable income.