What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fall 2026, Research Intern, Center on Health Policy (Job ID: 2026-3852) position at The Brookings Institution?
Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!
Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.
Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students pursuing a masters degree with an interest in health policy and economics to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.40, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 25 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.
To learn more about Brookings research programs, click here.
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. This is a hybrid opportunity. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Work location cannot be in any of the following states Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship.
The Center on Health Policy (CHP) produces rigorous research and analysis that informs the national health care policy debate. Recent and ongoing research examines impediments to prescription drug competition, strategies to enhance insurance coverage, provider consolidation, insurance market design, and policies to improve mental and behavioral health care in the U.S.
Interns will gain exposure to a broad set of economic policy topics while developing their analytical thinking and writing skills. Applicants should expect a range of responsibilities, broadly defined under the following categories
General research and writing Interns will assist with short-term research and other projects. Examples include research for policy memos, blog posts, or other work products. In addition, interns might be expected to analyze data and create graphs for papers, policy memos, presentations, and other items.
Interns will help research potential topics and authors for future center/project work.
Quality Assurance Interns will assist with the fact checking and quality assurance process, which may include reviewing statistical code and verifying sources.
Education/Knowledge/Skills
Successful applicants will be in their junior or senior year pursuing an undergraduate degree in economics or a related field like mathematics or statistics, or graduate students pursuing a master’s degree. Applicants should have strong writing and analytical skills and have taken introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics. Coursework in statistics or econometrics is highly recommended. Applicants should be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about U.S. healthcare policy. Achieved proficiency in using Microsoft Excel and experience working with STATA, R, Python, or another statistical software are preferred. A successful applicant will have a strong teamwork ethic and a belief that no task is too big or too small.
Additional Information
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings.
Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit your resume as instructed and add your cover letter as an attachment when you apply. You are required to submit/attach a separate cover letter for each internship application. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals. Please address your cover letter to Hiring Manager.
If selected as a finalist for the internship, you will be required to submit two letters of recommendation or provide two professional references.
Applications will be accepted until June 14, 2026. Applications not completed and submitted by the application deadline date will not be considered. Your application is considered complete when you receive an email confirming that your application was successfully submitted.
As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s).
Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first-generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.
Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students pursuing a masters degree with an interest in health policy and economics to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.40, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 25 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.
To learn more about Brookings research programs, click here.
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. This is a hybrid opportunity. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Work location cannot be in any of the following states Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship.
The Center on Health Policy (CHP) produces rigorous research and analysis that informs the national health care policy debate. Recent and ongoing research examines impediments to prescription drug competition, strategies to enhance insurance coverage, provider consolidation, insurance market design, and policies to improve mental and behavioral health care in the U.S.
Interns will gain exposure to a broad set of economic policy topics while developing their analytical thinking and writing skills. Applicants should expect a range of responsibilities, broadly defined under the following categories
General research and writing Interns will assist with short-term research and other projects. Examples include research for policy memos, blog posts, or other work products. In addition, interns might be expected to analyze data and create graphs for papers, policy memos, presentations, and other items.
Interns will help research potential topics and authors for future center/project work.
Quality Assurance Interns will assist with the fact checking and quality assurance process, which may include reviewing statistical code and verifying sources.
Education/Knowledge/Skills
Successful applicants will be in their junior or senior year pursuing an undergraduate degree in economics or a related field like mathematics or statistics, or graduate students pursuing a master’s degree. Applicants should have strong writing and analytical skills and have taken introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics. Coursework in statistics or econometrics is highly recommended. Applicants should be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about U.S. healthcare policy. Achieved proficiency in using Microsoft Excel and experience working with STATA, R, Python, or another statistical software are preferred. A successful applicant will have a strong teamwork ethic and a belief that no task is too big or too small.
Additional Information
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings.
Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit your resume as instructed and add your cover letter as an attachment when you apply. You are required to submit/attach a separate cover letter for each internship application. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals. Please address your cover letter to Hiring Manager.
If selected as a finalist for the internship, you will be required to submit two letters of recommendation or provide two professional references.
Applications will be accepted until June 14, 2026. Applications not completed and submitted by the application deadline date will not be considered. Your application is considered complete when you receive an email confirming that your application was successfully submitted.
As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s).
Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first-generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Salary : $18