The American Enterprise Institute’s Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility (COSM) seeks two driven, research-oriented interns for spring 2026. The interns will work closely with COSM scholars and staff to research, identify, and promote policies that improve opportunity and mobility for low-income Americans. COSM scholars study the determinants of economic mobility and human flourishing in America through empirically driven and policy-informing research.

The COSM interns will interact with a variety of research and policy areas, including federal safety-net programs such as cash welfare, food assistance, and unemployment insurance; trends in social capital in America; and determinants of economic mobility and human flourishing. These interns will be expected to retrieve and analyze datasets, assist with data visualization projects, curate content for a biweekly newsletter, and perform other research and writing tasks. Candidates who are able to participate in the program on an in-person basis for 25-40 hours a week are encouraged to apply.

Successful applicants should have:

• Interest or experience studying anti-poverty policy.
• Experience studying economics and statistics—particularly as it relates to public policy.

About AEI Internships

AEI internships offer a unique opportunity for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates to gain experience in research, writing, business, and communications at one of the nation’s leading think tanks. Competitive candidates will generally have a GPA of 3.5 or higher from a top-ranking college or university. AEI’s internship program runs for 12 weeks and all related programming will take place in Washington, DC. Please see the internship program home page for additional information about the program.

The start dates for the spring program are: January 13^th and January 20^th.