RAND, a nonprofit research organisation in the United States, is inviting graduate students to spend 12 weeks working on live policy research as Summer Associates.
RAND is a research organisation, not a university: it advises governments and public agencies on policy, and its summer associates join a team that is already working on a live project.
Key details at a glance
| Organisation | RAND |
| Location | Santa Monica, Washington DC, Pittsburgh or Boston, or fully remote |
| Duration | 12 weeks (60 workdays), full time |
| Tentative start dates | 24 May or 14 June |
| Pay | US$32 per hour, about US$15,000 before tax |
| Deadline | 1 December, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time |
| Decisions by | Mid-March |
| Who it is for | Doctoral students in year two or later |
What you will actually do
You join a RAND research team and work on one of its live projects. The work is varied: you may collect and clean data, read and summarise evidence, run analysis, write a short memo or build a model. You will be asked to work independently and to check your own work, because the team relies on it. The project is real, and your work may be used in a report or briefing.
The exact work depends on the team you join. Most teams work on policy, health, education, defence or technology, and the project you are given will match the field you are hired in.
Who should apply — and who should not
This programme is for doctoral students who are in year two or later and who can show that they can do independent research. You do not need to be a RAND employee or a US citizen to apply.
Master’s students are considered in Engineering, Computer or Information Science, and Operations Research, if they graduate no earlier than the December after the summer.
Do not apply if you are only interested in RAND’s name, or if you are not ready to spend the summer working full time on a research project.
The fields RAND is looking for
RAND hires summer associates in the following fields:
- Political Science / History
- Engineering
- Computer Science / Data Science
- International Relations / Security Studies
- Biology / Life Sciences / Bioengineering
- Industrial-Organisational Psychology
- Operations Research
- Economics
- Health Policy / Public Health
- Education Policy
The pay, in real terms
The programme pays US$32 an hour for a full-time week, which comes to about US$15,000 before tax for the 12 weeks. That is the gross figure, before tax. RAND does not provide relocation assistance, so budget for housing and travel yourself.
The pay is high for a student internship, but the cost of living in Santa Monica, Washington DC or Boston is also high, so plan ahead.
The residency rule that decides many applications
You must live in the United States during the summer — the internship is in the US, not abroad. International students are eligible if they plan to live in the US during the summer. Citizenship is not required for the programme, except for some projects on national security, where US citizenship may be needed.
How to apply
To apply, you need to complete a single online application. There is no fee, and you apply through the RAND careers site, not by email.
- Prepare your CV and a cover letter.
- Answer three short questions, in no more than 250 words each.
- Name two people who can recommend you. They will only be asked for a letter if you are interviewed.
- Submit one application only — extra applications are withdrawn.
- Submit before 1 December, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Do not apply for more than one role, and do not send your application by email: it will not be considered.
How to make your application strong
Your application is strongest when it shows one piece of research you have done yourself, with a short example — the question you asked, what you did, and what you found. A long list of courses is less useful than one clear example.
Your cover letter should say why you want to work at RAND, and which field you want to work in. If you have worked with data, say what tools you used and what you produced.
Frequently asked questions
Is this internship paid?
Yes. Summer Associates are paid US$32 an hour for a full-time week, about US$15,000 before tax for the 12 weeks.
Can international students apply?
Yes, if they plan to live in the United States during the summer. Citizenship is not required, except for some national-security projects.
When will I hear back?
Decisions are usually made by mid-March. If you are shortlisted, RAND will contact you for an interview.
Related opportunities: European Commission Blue Book Traineeship and IMF Fund Internship Program
