Although there is no financial compensation for interns, MEI does offer each intern one free language class, a one-year membership to MEI, and reimbursement for local travel expenses.

The Intern Development Series

The goal of the Intern Development Series is to foster discussion about the Middle East while allowing interns to assert, and improve, their leadership skills by meeting weekly with a MEI visiting scholar or specialist. Interns are encouraged to play a management role in this series and are expected to devise specific topics for scholars to discuss and then to organize the logistics of the event. Interns are also expected to lead discussion, compile background reading, and even lead discussions with the scholars.

Internship Details

Internships are available throughout the year to undergraduates and recent graduates. Positions are available on a full or part-time basis with a minimum of 20 hours a week. The dates of internships correspond to the fall, spring, and, summer academic semesters.

The deadlines for applications are:

• Spring internship: November 15
• Summer Internship: March 15
• Fall internship: July 15

Internships are available in the following departments:

• Programs department interns help research, plan, and administer lectures, performances, conferences, exhibits, language courses, and outreach materials.
• The Middle East Journal/Publications interns draft annotations of books for publication in the Journal, help to compile the Journal's "Bibliography of Periodical Literature," assist in research for the Journal's "Chronology," and help editors copyedit articles, press releases, and all other publications.
• Development interns participate in prospect research on corporate and foundation donors as well as writing letters to and making calls to MEI supporters.
• Communications interns edit press releases and opeds, compile and maintain media lists, monitor the Arab, European and American press, cover congressional hearings, and other special projects.
• There are a limited number of positions doing research with MEI scholars-in-residence.
• All interns participate in the planning and execution of the annual conference. Interns will also have the opportunity to complete write-ups of policy events for mass distribution via email and for the MEI website.

To apply for an internship, please send a cover letter, résumé, official college transcript, five-page writing sample, and a letter of recommendation to the address below. Interested applicants from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to those applicants with superior writing, organization, word-processing, and Middle Eastern/European language skills.

Please send your application materials to:

Adam Mendelson
Internship Coordinator
The Middle East Institute
1761 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036-2882

If you have additional questions, please refer them to internships@mideasti.org.