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Research intern - Geopolitics
Institute for International and Islamic Strategic Affairs Remote · Three months · Extension and paid engagement possible for the right candidate
IISA is a strategic institute working on geopolitical questions across the international system, with a particular focus on the Middle East region. Our work involves the substantive analysis of the regional and global dynamics that shape current events, and the convening of confidential meetings between senior interlocutors on the questions that define the current period. Our work is done in discretion, at the highest institutional level, and on substantive rather than declarative terms.
We are recruiting a research and programme intern for a three-month engagement to support the geopolitical work through the second half of 2026. The role is remote, working alongside the Executive Director and the wider team.
The role
The intern will support the substantive and operational work of the geopolitical portfolio. Concretely, this includes:
- Preparing analytical background material for meetings and consultations
- Drafting internal notes and documentation
- Supporting the coordination of workshops and other convenings
- Contributing to research on the regional and international dynamics that inform our engagements
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Who we are looking for
We are looking for someone who reads the current international system as more than a policy landscape. Someone who holds their own view of what is actually happening, is comfortable with ambiguity, and can write clearly under time pressure. Formal credentials matter less than the quality of the mind.
Concretely:
- Postgraduate degree (in progress or completed) in international relations, area studies, security studies, political economy, or a related field
- Strong regional interest and demonstrable knowledge, particularly of the Middle East
- Strong written English; additional languages relevant to the region are welcomed
- Ability to work independently to defined deadlines in a small-team environment
- The right disposition matters: independent thinking, discretion, and comfort operating in unresolved and sensitive contexts
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Terms
- Duration: three months, with potential to extend
- Location: remote
- Remuneration: this is an unpaid position. On successful completion, a certificate of completion and formal references will be provided
- Extension: the right candidate may be offered a continuing engagement, funded, after the three-month period
How to apply
Send the following to : info@iisa.org.uk
- A CV of no more than two pages
- A short response (no more than 250 words) to the following question: "Identify one region or dynamic in the current international system that you believe is being systematically misread by mainstream policy analysis, and explain briefly why."
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a further stage of selection, the format of which will be shared at the appropriate moment.
Application window closes: 08 July 2026
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