USRF Internship Program

The U.S. Russia Foundation invites applications for its internship program in the Foundation’s Washington DC office. The internship program is paid and offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters - hybrid and in-person options are preferred.

Interns will have responsibilities in two areas: (1) supporting USRF staff in grant administration and management, and in the operation of the Washington office; and (2) researching, writing, and producing memos. USRF interns will also participate in seminars, discussions, and events to develop their expertise on Russia and knowledge of careers and professions in government, the private sector, and education.

Interns will work flexible schedules of 15-20 hours per week under the supervision of USRF staff.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for each semester:

  • Spring semester applications are due by December 1

  • Summer semester applications are due by April 30

  • Fall semester applications are due by August 15

Duration:

  • The Spring internship program runs from January 15 through May 31

  • The Summer internship program runs from June 1 through August 31

  • The Fall internship program runs from September 15 through December 31

Qualifications:

  1. Be a current full-time undergraduate student at an accredited U.S. college or university with a focus on Russian studies (in any academic discipline), OR be a current Masters degree or professional degree candidate. Preference is given to undergraduates, but MA candidates may also apply.

  2. Have completed at least 2 years of Russian language studies or the equivalent

  3. Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher

  4. Be a U.S. citizen

Application Instructions:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for each semester. Spring semester applications are due by December 1; Summer semester applications are due by April 30, and Fall semester applications are due by August 15.

Interested candidates should submit the following materials by email to jkelderman@usrf.us:

  1. A resume;

  2. A letter of interest/cover letter that includes: your background, your interest in Russia, and what you think USRF should be doing to advance its mission (see the USRF website http://usrf.us);

  3. One (1) letter of recommendation from professors, instructors, or teaching assistants. Note: the letters can be sent directly to jkelderman@usrf.us by recommenders with the name of the applicant in the subject line.

  4. A current university transcript; and

  5. A brief writing sample (this can be a sample of a final paper, a policy sample or memo, or a published article that relates to the field) 2-4 pages long.

Please note: Due to the large number of applications received, only those applicants that have been chosen for an interview will be contacted by USRF.