Careers in Think Tanks and Research Institutes

In Washington, DC and throughout the country, many think tanks and research organizations focus on foreign policy and international issues. These organizations are often supported by contracts from the government, foundations, private businesses, and endowments. Think tanks, in the most traditional sense, are seen as non-partisan organizations that employ interdisciplinary approaches to finding long-term solutions to policy-related issues.

Research organizations vary in perspective and focus; some may be viewed more as advocacy groups which promote a particular agenda, while others may resemble private sector consulting organizations or academic institutions. In addition to their research efforts, many research institutes produce major publications or organize professional conferences, lectures, and policy forums. Think tank scholars testify before congressional committees, submit articles to major newspapers, and may serve on government task forces.

The types of positions available vary considerably between organizations and are very much dependent upon one’s level of education. In addition to research-related positions, which usually require an MA or PhD and specialized expertise, many organizations employ interns and individuals with BA and MA degrees for a range of administrative positions. Entry-level positions for individuals with MA degrees include:

Program Manager/Assistant – Coordinates and handles logistics for major program events, meetings, conferences, and international visits. Manages a range of program support functions, including communications and publication work.

   Research Assistant – Provides research support to fellows and senior associates, drafts documents, manages database records, handles correspondence, and provides general administrative support. 

   Research Associate – Develops and implements research plans, prepares funding proposals, analyzes data, and synthesizes, publishes, and presents findings to various audiences.  (This role typically requires a graduate         degree.)

Advancement into senior positions usually requires education at the PhD level and/or extensive specialized expertise, so it is common to see those in junior level positions leaving after two or three years to pursue higher education and professional opportunities in academia, government, private corporations, and consulting firms.

In response to changing world affairs, public interests, funding, and budgetary constraints, many foreign policy research organizations are re-examining their focus. Entry-level positions remain highly competitive and success in securing a post requires planning and persistence. Most think tanks and research institutes do have formal internship programs and many look first to current and former interns to fill new positions. Not only are interns in a position to hear about openings before they are advertised externally, but they also frequently have had prior occasion to demonstrate their specialized knowledge, skills, and dedication. 

Higher education, at the MA or PhD level, and experience in the field is generally required for substantive research positions. But, many U.Va. students have successfully found summer internships and full-time positions in entry-level communications and research positions. Strong communication skills, both written and oral, are essential. One must be able to write concise briefing reports as well as longer, academic works. Presentation skills are also important, as is comfort in addressing an audience of experts. Competitive candidates will also be able to demonstrate proficiency in foreign languages for institutes with an international focus.  Many positions require solid quantitative skills and knowledge of statistical packages.    

The American Council for Capital Formation - http://www.accf.org

Aspen Institute - https://www.aspeninstitute.org/

Brookings Institution - http://www.brookings.edu 

Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs - https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - http://www.carnegieendowment.org

CATO Institute – www.cato.org

The Carter Center - cartercenter.org

Center for Strategic and International Studies -http://www.csis.org 

Committee for Economic Development - http://www.ced.org

Council on Foreign Relations - http://www.cfr.org 

East-West Center - http://www.eastwestcenter.org

Economic Development Research Partners - https://www.iedconline.org/index.php?src=pages&ref=edrp-landing-page

Economic Policy Institute - http://www.epi.org

The Heritage Foundation - http://www.heritage.org

Hoover Institute, Stanford University – http://www.hoover.org

Institute for Food and Development Policy (Food First) - http://www.foodfirst.org 

Peterson Institute for International Economics - http://www.piie.com

Mother Jones - https://www.motherjones.com/

National Bureau of Asian Research - http://www.nbr.org

National Center of Policy Analysis - http://www.ncpa.org

Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development - http://www.nautilus.org

New America (UVA alum founder) - https://www.newamerica.org/

RAND -http://www.rand.org

Resources for the Future (RFF) - http://www.rff.org

Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service (Charlottesville) - http://www.coopercenter.org/

Woodrow Wilson International Center - http://www.wilsoncenter.org

World Economic Forum - http://www.weforum.org

For a more comprehensive list of employers, please see the Think Tanks list from the Harvard Kennedy School found here http://guides.library.harvard.edu/hks/think_tank_search

ECON 3430 - Economics of Sustainability and the Environment 

ECON 4080 - Law and Economics

ECON 4150 - Economics of Labor

ECON 4190 - Industrial Organization

ECON 4200 - Antitrust Policy

ECON 4110 - Competitive Strategy

ECON 4350 - Corporate Finance

ECON 4430 - Environmental Economics

ECON 4610 - Economic Development

For a full list of organizations at UVA, please see: https://atuva.student.virginia.edu/Organizations

            Business Ethics Society

            Economics Club

            Federalist Society

            Global Development Organization

            SEED

            Undergraduate Research Network (URN)

ECO Careers in Public Policy Panel

Internet Resources

• Carnegie Endowment employment opportunities - http://carnegieendowment.org/about/employment
• National Institute for Research Advancement’s index of research organizations by country - https://english.nira.or.jp/directory/
• Index and description of a selection of think tanks on the Source Watch website- http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Think_tanks

Publications

• A Capitol Idea: Think Tanks And US Foreign Policy, Donald E. Abelson,McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2006.
• Careers in International Affairs, Maria Pinto Carland and Candance Faber (editors), Georgetown University Press, 2008.
• Do Think Tanks Matter?: Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institute, Donald E. Abelson, McGill­Queen’s University Press, 2009.
• International Research Centers Directory, Gale Publishing, 2006.
• Think Tanks, Public Policy, and Politics of Expertise, Andrew Rich, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
• Think Tanks Traditions: Policy Analysis Across Nations, Diane Stone and Andrew Denham, Manchester University Press, 2004.
• Research Centers Directory, Gale Publishing, 2005.

See also the ECO Career Overview “Careers in Public Affairs and Public Policy”