Education Communications Research Associate Intern (Summer 2026) Master's Students

Join AIR as an Education Communications Research Associate Intern and use your skills and curiosity to help us deliver on our mission: to generate evidence and apply data‑driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all. This internship is open to students who are currently pursuing their master’s degree and looking to gain applied experience in education research and communications. The intern will provide communications support to various projects and initiatives at AIR. This role involves contributing to communications strategies to support AIR staff in research and technical assistance recruitment and dissemination, as well as contributing to the development of reports and presentations. The intern will gain hands‑on experience in a professional environment and have the opportunity to work with experts in the field.

The Education Systems and Policy Program focuses on conducting research and evaluations and providing support and technical assistance to states, districts, and schools on a broad range of Kindergarten through Postsecondary education policies, strategies, and interventions.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations but requires availability to participate in meetings across all continental U.S. time zones. This does not include U.S. territories.

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

The responsibilities for the position include:

• Assist in conducting literature reviews to support research projects and proposals.
• Participate in the dissemination of research and evaluations.
• Support a variety of communications strategies to reach specific audiences – including policymakers, practitioners, and other beneficiaries.
• Support the development of reports, presentations, and other project deliverables.
• Collaborate with team members to ensure timely completion of project tasks.
• Attend and participate in team meetings and training sessions.
• Provide administrative support as needed.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• Must be a current student pursuing a Master’s degree in such fields as Education Policy, Public Policy, or Communications.
• Understanding of communications techniques.

Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy when writing.

Disclosures: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks. AIR maintains a drug-free work environment. 

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at [email protected] call 202.403.5000.

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer: AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example [email protected] is correct and [email protected] is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out [email protected]. If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) atReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams atftc.gov/scams.

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