Fall Internships, Center for Strategic and International Studies

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 200 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

All of the following internships are full time, except as noted, and require that the student is at least a junior. Click on each title to read a full description and to apply.

• Presidents Office and Development Office
• Japan Chair Research Internship
• Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
• Development Office
• Korea Chair Research Internship
• Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group (paid, may be half time, and may start immediately)

Additional internships, some for graduate students, may be found on the CSIS website.

Quantitative Analyst, D.E. Shaw Group

Quants at the D. E. Shaw group apply mathematical techniques and write software to develop, analyze, and implement statistical models for our computerized financial trading strategies. They utilize their creativity and innovation to create novel approaches to trade profitably in markets around the globe. Specific responsibilities range from leveraging financial data in an effort to increase profitability, decrease risk, and reduce transaction costs to conceiving new trading ideas, formulating them into systematic strategies, and critically evaluating their performance. Successful quant candidates have traditionally been exceptionally talented students at the top of their respective statistics, math, physics, engineering, and computer science programs; a considerable number have also competed successfully in the United States and International Math Olympiads as well as the Putnam Competition.

Interested candidates can apply here. Other opportunities are available.

Forensic Economics Internship.

Forensic Economist Intern Program:  September --December 2018 (Unpaid)

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission - Division of Enforcement

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is an independent agency mandated to regulate commodity futures, swaps and options trading in the United States. Through oversight and regulation, the CFTC fosters open, competitive, and financially sound futures and option markets, and protects market participants against manipulation, abusive practices, and fraud related to the sale of commodity and financial futures and options.

The Division of Enforcement investigates and prosecutes alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations. For example, the Division brings enforcement actions against: individuals and firms registered with the Commission; those who violate these laws in connection with their trading commodity futures and options on designated domestic exchanges; those who improperly market futures and options contracts to retail investors or perpetrate Ponzi schemes; those who use manipulative or deceptive schemes in connection with commodities, futures or swaps; and those who engage in disruptive trading practices. The Division bases investigations on information it develops independently, as well as information provided by other Commission Divisions, industry self-regulatory associations, state, federal, and international authorities, and members of the public. At the conclusion of an investigation, the Division may recommend that the Commission initiate administrative proceedings or seek injunctive and ancillary relief on behalf of the Commission in United States District Courts around the country.

Description of the Program:

The Division of Enforcement selects graduate or undergraduate candidates seeking a degree in Economics or other quantitative disciplines each semester to work as unpaid Forensic Economist Interns in its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Participants will work with the Division’s Forensic Economist Unit for approximately twenty (20) to forty (40) hours per week. Interns may arrange to earn course credit through their school for work performed during their CFTC internship.

The intern serves as a technical expert for assisting Division of Enforcement staff in conducting legal investigations into certain activities observed in derivatives markets. The intern will utilize empirical research and analytical tools to advise Division of Enforcement attorneys, investigators and economists on assigned commodity markets to assess whether trading conduct by certain entities is potentially in violation of anti-manipulation or anti-disruptive trading practice provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act or related Commission Regulations. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend Industry/Legal/Technical Training Programs alongside CFTC staff on such topics as futures trading, electronic markets, swaps, energy derivatives, international futures markets and regulation, forex, and trade practices.

Promoting Achievement and Diversity in Economics - Apply by Aug. 1st!

The Department of Economics is currently accepting applications for the third cohort of students in a Department Initiative called Promoting Achievement and Diversity in Economics (PADE).  PADE is a year-long program that offers advising, academic support, and professional development opportunities. Participants will attend weekly study sessions for economics and math classes and occasional seminars with faculty or professional economists in the DC area. PADE is designed to increase diversity in economics by supporting traditionally under-represented students who major in economics, particularly those exploring the BS degree, and those who are considering graduate study in economics or a related field. By providing resources and personalized advising that are not typically available in large majors, PADE will enhance your educational experience and help you clarify and achieve your academic goals.

If you are interested in participating in PADE, please contact Jessica Goldberg (Goldberg@econ.umd.edu) for more information. You can apply to participate in the program by completing this form. Applications are due by August 1st.

Fall Research Assistant Internship, Institute for China America Studies

The Institute for China-America Studies seeks a research assistant intern to support our scholars. The application deadline is Monday, August 6, 2018. The internship will begin on August 27, 2018 and conclude on December 20, 2018. This is a part time, 20 hour per week internship.

Competitive candidates will be have an interest in U.S.-China relations, and be pursuing, or recently have obtained a bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree from an accredited institution. We are looking for problem solvers who can think on their feet and anticipate tasks ahead of time. Candidates with previous research experience at a D.C. think tank are preferred. Professional fluency in English and Mandarin is highly desired.

Qualifications and required skills:

• Deep understanding of U.S.-China relations with area specific knowledge of one or more of the following:
• Maritime security and the South China Sea dispute.
• The crisis on the Korean peninsula/nuclear weapons policy.
• Trade & Economics.
• Research: fluid navigation of Internet search engines, primary and secondary resources.
• Excellent writing skills and analytical ability.
• Experience with Microsoft Office & Google Docs.
• Outstanding communication/interpersonal skills.

For more information about to apply please see the institute website.

Korea Economic Institute of America Fall 2018 Internship

KEI is currently seeking graduate students & exceptional undergraduate students with an interest in Asia-Pacific issues for its fall 2018 intern class. We offer candidates a unique internship opportunity to be integrally involved in the inner workings of an international government policy institute. Due to the level of work expected of interns, the selection process is highly competitive and only open to the select few.

KEI interns are on the cusp of current events, hearing the news before it is released, and organizing the very interviews that are shown on the evening news. They are directly active in the practice of U.S.-ROK diplomacy and provided maximum exposure to the issues and major players in the field of U.S.-Korea Relations via: report publication, attendance at events, and both peer-to-peer and VIP networking opportunities. At KEI, interns gain experience in the areas of professional writing development, policy research, data collection, economic analysis, and event planning.

Main Responsibilities

• Attend and prepare short analytical reports on conferences, programs & hearings in the Washington, D.C. Area of interest
• Assist with the event planning and conducting of various KEI-sponsored conferences and programs
• Provide research support for KEI staff 
• Provide administrative activities which will contribute to a fuller understanding of the inner workings of KEI and work as a team with members of staff and other interns on major events and projects 
• Track specific issues in the media 

Fall 2018 International Program Intern, CEPR

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) is currently looking for an International Program Intern for Fall 2018 (early September through December). This is a full-time paid internship for a Washington, DC-based position.

Job Description: Responsibilities include assisting staff with research on upcoming papers and opinion pieces; organizing events with Latin American delegations, CEPR staff, and visiting academics; assisting in tracking and logging press mentions; as well as working on outreach to press, advocacy organizations, and Congress.

The responsibilities vary based on the applicant’s interests and experience, as well as the particular issues that CEPR is working on at the time. Interns will be able to attend relevant events around Washington, DC.

Qualifications: We are looking for applicants with a general understanding of economics, international relations, and democracy issues, and an interest in economic justice. Previous research, data, and/or outreach experience is extremely helpful; interns with strong economics or foreign policy experience (including Master’s degrees) will have the opportunity to engage in serious research, and those with strong organizing or outreach experience will have event management opportunities. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred. The intern will need to be able to work in a fast-paced environment with limited supervision and be a self-starter and independent learner. Excellent writing and communications skills are necessary. Applicants affected by the issues that CEPR works on are especially encouraged to apply.

Closing Date of Position: Monday, August 6, 2018 (at 11:59 PM, Eastern time)

For full details and application instructions please see the CEPR website. 

Research Coordinator, University of Michigan

Start Date: July/Aug 2018
Commitment: at least 1 year  (Salary and benefits commensurate with experience)

Achyuta Adhvaryu, a professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, is looking for a research coordinator to manage various aspects of his research portfolio. His main research interest is in development economics. In the past he has conducted research on the impacts of soft skills training for women and the impacts of environmental factors such as heat and pollution on worker productivity, both in the garment sector in India. More details of his research can be found here: http://www.achadhvaryu.com. He is also co-founder and research director at an India based non-profit – the Good Business Lab (GBL, www.goodbusinesslab.org ) – which focuses on building the business case for firms to invest in worker welfare.

Responsibilities:

• Designing prospective interventions, surveys, and administering research study-associated activities 
• Project planning and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements 
• Performing high frequency data quality checks, data cleaning, and preliminary data analysis 
• Human subjects protocols 
• Assisting in the formation and writing of grant proposals 
• Coordinating project calls with co-authors across several project teams based in the US and India 

Amazon Finance Diversity Leadership Summit

Are you interested in learning more about finance/accounting at Amazon?

Students graduating between December 2019 and August 2020 are encouraged to apply for the Finance Diversity Leadership Summit scheduled for Oct. 4th and 5th in Seattle, WA. This two day summit is designed for students interested in learning about Amazon's culture, increase your understanding of finance and accounting, and network with Amazonians! Participants should expect to learn through challenging case studies, build interview skills, and have the opportunity to interview for the 2019 Accounting or Finance Summer Internship Programs.

Eligibility Requirements

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or other business related majors
• Expected degree completion between December 2019 and August 2020
• Cannot be committed to another 2019 summer internship

The deadline to complete the application is Friday, August 31st. Amazon covers all travel/event expenses for the students. For more information and to apply click here.

Summer Financial Planning & Reporting Internship, Choice Hotels

Our uniquely designed program offers interns valuable exposure into the hospitality industry and the operating structure of a leading organization in this space. Our comprehensive program promotes growth through various opportunities including: practical work experience and participation in a critical business project in a chosen field, learning and networking opportunities with senior leaders, and an intern-led service project supporting our corporate social responsibility initiative. This program is designed to provide students with an enriched experience in corporate dynamics, collaboration and their individual areas of interest.

The Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) is a strategic partner to Choice’s business and partners with both internal and external stakeholders to provide timely and meaningful financial guidance. Some of the current year’s key initiatives are: revamping the companywide forecast and financial close process and implementing a new enterprise budgeting and planning tool.

The intern is likely to be engaged in helping out with both these initiatives which roll up under the broader and all-encompassing FP&A Transformation initiative.

Skills

• Friendly and respectful personality with limitless energy and passion for finance and learning new concepts 
• Proficiency in MS Excel, specifically with usage of formulas like, Vlookup, Hlookup, SumIfs, and functions like Pivot Tables, charts, graphs etc. 
• Proficiency in other MS applications like MS Word, Power Point and Outlook 
• Interest in learning about Hospitality business in general and Finance function in particular 
• Must be able to uphold Choice’s Values & Performance Principles of collaboration, performance excellence, sense of urgency, innovation, inclusion & diversity, integrity & trust, customer focus, and respect 

For the full details of this internship and to apply, visit the Choice website.

Tech Girls Rock - Hosted by Fannie Mae

UMD Students Are Invited to Attend: Tech Girls Rock Event on July 25th!
Hosted by Fannie Mae

Are you interested in the STEM field? If yes, you are invited to attend this event to learn how the women of Fannie Mae are impacting the company through technology, interact with a panel of recent college graduates, and have an opportunity to network with a number of talented women.

This event will take place at 3900 Town Center on July 25th from 10:00am-1:00pm. All students interested in the STEM field are welcome to attend. Students will be provided with both breakfast and lunch and hear remarks from Vice President of Workplace and Business Service in our Technology Business Unit, Dawn Damico.

Students who are interested in attending can register here: https://fanniemae.typeform.com/to/HeQ3SI by July 22nd.

Fall Political Data Internship, Data Trust

Data Trust’s fall internship program is a part-time, paid program for college students and young professionals interested in pursuing a career in political data. Interns will have the opportunity to work hands-on with Data Trust clients and staff with ongoing projects related to statistics and voter data. The program is based in Washington, D.C. The program will run from September 5th - November 9th, but we can be flexible for the right candidate. There is no minimum hour requirement, but there is a maximum of 29 hours per week.

Responsibilities:

• Request and upload statewide and countywide voter files in SQL Server Management Studio with the Data Collection team 
• Assist Business Intelligence/Reporting team with preparing data for visualizations in Tableau
• Process and audit incoming data with the Voter File Development team
• Assist the Data Operations team to assemble packages and processes for common ETL tasks

Qualifications: Accepted participants must be enrolled and working toward a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or be a recent graduate. Preferred majors are political science, government, math, computer science, business, communications or economics. Applicants ideally have experience working in politics, excellent organizational skills, a strong work ethic, basic Microsoft Excel skills and a dedication to political data. Experience with Microsoft SQL or Tableau is a plus.

For full information and to apply please visit Data Trust's website.

Fall 2018 Domestic Program Intern, CEPR

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) is currently looking for a Domestic Program Intern for Fall 2018. This is a full-time, Washington, DC-based position.

Job Description: The internship starts in early September 2018 and will end in December 2018. The intern will assist with a variety of research, outreach, and communications activities related to the US economy and domestic policy. This may include outreach to press, advocacy organizations, and Congress, along with some research for upcoming reports and economic opinion pieces. Other tasks include communications duties such as generating website content and tracking CEPR’s appearances in the media.

The responsibilities of interns vary based on the applicant’s interests and experience, as well as the particular issues that CEPR is working on at the time. Interns will be able to attend relevant events around Washington, DC.

Qualifications: We are looking for applicants with a general understanding of economics and domestic policy, and an interest in economic justice. Excellent writing and communications skills are required. Previous research, data, and/or outreach experience is extremely helpful. The intern will need to be able to work in a fast-paced environment with limited supervision and should be a self-starter and independent learner. Excellent writing and communications skills are necessary.

Interns are typically recent graduates or graduate students, although applicants with different experiences will be considered. Applicants affected by the issues that CEPR works on are especially encouraged to apply. For applicants that need permission to work in the United States, CEPR may be able to sponsor the appropriate visa. Please clearly indicate your requirements in your cover letter.

Closing Date of Position: Friday, July 27, 2018 (at 11:59 PM, Eastern time)

For full details and application instructions please see the CEPR website.