Research Intern Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Internship Title: Research Intern

Internship Category: Paid

Applicable Academic Field(s): Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy

Requirements: Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree; applicants must be located in the Washington, DC area.

Internship Period: October 2026 – March 2027

Schedule: Full-time (37.5 per week)

Number of candidates desired: 1

Position:

The World Justice Project (WJP) is recruiting one (1) applicant to support its research team in a paid internship for a period of six (6) months. This Intern position will be based in Washington, DC, and will report to WJP’s Manager, Giacomo D'Urbano. This is a current vacancy, with an immediate start.

                   Primary Responsibilities:

The Research Intern will spend most of their time providing crucial support for Environmental Rule of Law assessment which seeks to develop and deploy empirical tools to measure and strengthen environmental rule of law in countries in the Asia Pacific region. The main responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supporting questionnaire and conceptual framework developments through desk research and literature reviews. 
• Assist with the primary data collection process for the Qualified Respondents’ Questionnaire (QRQ) expert surveys. This includes survey design and maintenance, survey administration, large scale outreach efforts, correspondence with expert contributors, and management of online data collection platforms and CRM databases.
• Assist with preparations for meetings and presentations, including producing drafts of Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and handouts, and preparing and assembling outreach materials for external distribution;
• Support projects and activities related to alternative data collection efforts, data presentation, and data visualization.

The candidate chosen for this position might also spend some time providing general research assistance as needed to WJP’s portfolio of global research initiatives. These assignments would include supporting Rule of Law Index report activities and supporting research on rule of law in the United States.

Qualifications:

This internship is open to graduates (B.A. or M.A.) in Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, or another related field. Successful applicants will be bright, highly motivated individuals with excellent attention to detail, an enthusiastic interest in the rule of law, and commitment to the WJP’s mission and principles (www.worldjusticeproject.org). Preference will be given to students who possess the following skills and experiences sought for this internship:

• Experience in a professional setting
• Experience conducting qualitative research and/or performing general desk research
• Copyediting/proofing experience
• Administrative support experience
• Experience conducting professional correspondence with external stakeholders

                   How to Apply

The World Justice Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. To apply, please visit WJP's employment portal: https://worldjusticeproject.org/about-us/connect/employment. Please include the following documents along with your application (in one PDF file):

• Cover letter (Please specify the position level you would like to be considered for in your cover letter.)
• Resume
• Contact information for three professional references (past supervisors and employers preferred)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the high volume of applications received, we are only able to follow up directly with candidates selected for interviews. No phone calls please.

Location:

The internship will be based in the WJP’s Washington, DC headquarters at 1156 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. The WJP maintains a hybrid in-office/remote work schedule, with all members of the WJP team expected to work at least 60% of their scheduled hours from the WJP’s D.C. office. Each intern’s individual in-office/remote schedule will be confirmed with their supervisor at the start of the internship.

                  Physical Requirements:

While performing the responsibilities of the job, this person will frequently be required to use finger dexterity as well as sufficient hand dexterity to use a computer keyboard and be capable of reading on a computer screen. This person may need to remain seated for long periods of time, have the ability to perform repetitive motions, grasp objects, including a writing instrument, stand, communicate verbally and hear well enough to detect nuances, and receive detailed information. This person may be required to walk, push or pull objects, bend, squat, reach, or kneel. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision for extensive reading. WJP is committed to making reasonable accommodations to support the employment of people with disabilities.

Working Conditions:

The work conditions described here are representative of those an intern may encounter while performing this job. This person will typically work indoors in a heated and air-conditioned office, with a mixture of natural, incandescent and fluorescent light with low to moderate noise levels.

About the World Justice Project:

The World Justice Project (WJP) was launched in 2009 to promote justice and the rule of law globally. It is best known for its WJP Rule of Law Index, the world’s leading source on the performance of 142 countries in relation to absence of corruption, open government, civil and criminal justice, fundamental rights, and other rule of law standards. Drawing on the Index methodology, WJP also undertakes in-depth studies on specific countries and topics, such as access to justice, criminal justice, environmental governance, and corruption. The WJP puts this data and research into action to strengthen the rule of law through convening, engagement, and support of a global network—including through the biennial World Justice Forum and World Justice Challenge. At a time when the rule of law is facing fundamental challenges throughout the world, the WJP’s mission to strengthen respect for justice, peace, and fundamental rights is more pressing than ever. For more information, please visit www.worldjusticeproject.org.