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Research Internship Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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Research Internship information

See Virginia salary details

$2.1K

$6.4K

$7.7K

How much do research internship jobs pay per month?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average monthly pay for research internship in Virginia is $6,384.25, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $4,375.00 and $7,600.00 per month, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Intern, you need a solid academic background in your field, strong analytical abilities, and attention to detail, often backed by current enrollment in a relevant degree program. Familiarity with data analysis tools (such as Excel, SPSS, or Python), literature databases, and sometimes lab equipment or survey platforms is typically required. Initiative, strong communication, and time management are vital soft skills that help interns collaborate effectively and adapt to evolving project needs. These competencies are crucial to ensure high-quality research contributions, efficient teamwork, and valuable learning experiences.

What is the difference between Research Internship vs Research Assistant?

AspectResearch InternshipResearch Assistant
Required CredentialsTypically students or early-career individuals, often pursuing relevant degreesUsually students or early-career, sometimes with more specialized skills or coursework
Work EnvironmentAcademic labs, research centers, or industry R&D departmentsAcademic institutions, labs, or research projects within organizations
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, industry R&D divisionsUniversities, research labs, government agencies, industry

Research internships are short-term, educational experiences designed for students to gain exposure to research environments. Research assistants typically have more responsibilities, often assisting with ongoing projects, and may be involved in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Both roles are valuable for building research skills, but internships are more introductory, while research assistant positions often require more experience or coursework.

What are some typical projects or tasks that a research intern might work on, and how much autonomy can I expect in this role?

As a Research Intern, you can expect to assist with literature reviews, data collection and analysis, preparing reports or presentations, and sometimes helping design experiments or surveys. While you'll typically work under the guidance of a mentor or research lead, most programs encourage interns to take initiative and contribute their own ideas. The level of autonomy varies but often grows as you demonstrate your abilities and familiarity with the project. Collaboration with other interns, researchers, and sometimes cross-functional teams is common, making communication and teamwork important skills for success.

What is a research internship?

A research internship is a temporary position that allows students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience working on research projects, often in academic, scientific, or industry settings. Interns typically assist with tasks such as data collection, analysis, literature reviews, and sometimes even co-authoring publications. The goal is to expose interns to real-world research methodologies and help them develop relevant skills for future academic or professional pursuits. Research internships can be paid or unpaid and may last from a few weeks to several months.
What are the most commonly searched types of Research jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Research jobs in Virginia are:
Infographic showing various Research Internship job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,611 per year, or $36.8 per hour.

Fall 2026 Research Intern

Cook Political Report

Arlington, VA โ€ข On-site

Other

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Job Opportunity

Research interns at The Cook Political Report are responsible for a mix of long-term projects and daily administrative tasks and are invited to attend meetings and any relevant virtual panels or press conferences. Interns are responsible for:

  • Research: Updating internal and external polling trackers. Researching select House, Senate and/or Governors candidates. Learning to create a FEC report & pull ad spending data. Assisting with historical research of past House, Senate and Governors elections.
  • Projects: Assisting an editor on a project with a deliverable.
  • Writing and editing: Supporting website content updates by searching for broken links and other errors on the website. Learning the basics of HTML.
  • Internal meetings: Attending weekly staff meetings. Attending meetings with the supervising editor/mentor. Attending any training calls with editors to support efforts on their weekly projects and tasks.

This position is an in-person opportunity, developed for students who are applying for this position to fulfill an academic requirement. We occasionally have paid internship positions available as well. Ideal candidates are:

  • Actively pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Government, Political Science or a related field of study.
  • Experienced with spreadsheets (Excel, Sheets, etc), data visualization and digital publishing.
  • Comfortable working independently.
  • Outstanding writers with excellent attention to detail.

The Cook Political Report provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. In addition to federal law requirements, The Cook Political Report complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Invincible Summer Media, Inc. expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.