Think tanks

This page provides advice on working in DC think tanks, including our in-depth think tank guide and lists of relevant fellowships, think tanks working on emerging technology policy, and resources.

Working at a DC think tank: why and how

Think tank work can be a great way to build policy-relevant skills and knowledge, and work on important policy ideas. This guide explains how the think tank world works:

1. Why (not) work at a think tank?

Think tanks are useful launching pads for careers in public service. This guide explains how think tank work can allow you to contribute to policy change and enhance your professional development.

2. Think tank types & activities

More than a hundred think tanks in DC aim to inform and influence policymaking through a combination of research and writing, convening stakeholders, and advocacy. This guide explains their work in more detail.

3. Think tank roles & personal fit

Think tanks have a variety of jobs beyond pure research roles (e.g. communications, operations). This guide explains the main job categories at think tanks and how to determine your personal fit.

4. Getting a think tank job

This guide provides advice on how to find think tank job opportunities, which roles to apply for (including internships and fellowships), and how to improve your chances in the application process.

Think tank fellowships

There are many policy fellowship programs aiming to help people with different backgrounds and career stages test their fit for policy work and gain first-hand experience. These programs can provide opportunities to work at think tanks (or other policy institutions like Congress and executive agencies). Other common fellowship benefits include funding, training, mentoring, networking opportunities, application support, and the possibility of post-fellowship employment. See this database for a list of relevant US policy fellowships.

The following programs are especially relevant to think tank work:

Early- or mid career full-time fellowships

Horizon Fellowship: a 6-24 month full-time US emerging technology policy fellowship—focusing on AI policy and biosecurity policy—providing job placements in think tanks, the US Congress, or the executive branch, for early- and mid-career individuals. (The Horizon Fellowship and this website are both projects of the Horizon Institute for Public Service.)
Scoville Peace Fellowship: a 6-9 month full-time security policy fellowship with DC-based NGOs for early-career college or master’s graduates.
RAND Technology and Security Policy Fellowship: a 1-3 year full-time or part-time fellowship with RAND focused on AI policy, open to candidates from all experience levels, from undergraduate students to mid-career professionals.
STPI Science Policy Fellowship: a 2-year full-time science and technology policy fellowship.
Carnegie Endowment Gaither Junior Fellows Program: a 1-year program for graduating seniors and recent graduates (within the past academic year)
Third Way Fellows Program – a 12-month paid, full-time program with two tracks (1) Economic Fellows, and (2) Climate and Energy Fellows
GovAI Research Scholars (Centre for the Governance of AI): a one-year visiting position supporting AI governance researchers and practitioners in policy research, social science, technical research, and applied projects. Scholars gain mentorship, professional development, and opportunities to engage with policymakers.
GovAI Research Fellows (Centre for the Governance of AI): a full-time, two-year renewable position for researchers working on AI governance topics like regulation, international governance, and risk assessment. Fellows receive mentorship, project funding, and access to a broad policy network, with opportunities for policy advising and direct engagement with policymakers.
GovAI Summer and Winter Fellowships (Centre for the Governance of AI): a paid, three-month, London-based program for early-career individuals or professionals new to AI governance to conduct independent research under expert mentorship.
IAPS AI Policy Fellowship (Institute for AI Policy and Strategy): a paid, remote-first, four-month program where participants learn from AI policy experts, develop research skills, and support policy research under expert supervision, including an in-person 2-week period in Washington, DC.
LawAI Summer Research Fellowships (Institute for Law & AI): a paid, remote-first summer program for law students, professionals, and academics to conduct research on AI, law, and policy with expert mentorship, including an in-person week in Washington, DC.

Recent PhD or law school graduates

Brookings Rubenstein Fellowship
American Enterprise Institute Jeanne Kirkpatrick Fellowship
Future of Privacy Forum: Elise Berkower Memorial Fellow / Christopher Wolf Diversity Law Fellowship

Early- or mid-career non-resident fellowships (often part-time / unpaid but helpful for network- and skill-building)

Internships

Our policy internship page features dozens of think tank internship opportunities.

Mid-career visiting fellowships

Opportunities for people from underrepresented backgrounds

Our article on advice and resources for underrepresented groups in policy lists 25+ mentorship programs, fellowships, and internships (incl. many at think tanks)

Think tanks working on emerging tech policy

The below lists of think tanks working in different in emerging technology policy areas (AI, biosecurity, civic tech, cyber, nuclear weapons, and space) are not comprehensive, but we hope they are still helpful as starting points (see also this detailed global think tank repository).

🤖 AI policy think tanks

Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET)
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT): AI Governance Lab
Center for a New American Security (CNAS): Technology and National Security
Foundation for American Innovation (FAI): Technology and Innovation
Aspen Institute: Aspen Digital
Abundance Institute
Brookings: Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Technology and International Affairs
RAND Corporation: AI, Technology and Security Policy Center
AI Now Institute
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Center for AI and Advanced Technologies, International Security and Strategic Technologies
Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP)
New America: Future of Work & the Innovation Economy, Open Technology Institute
R Street Institute: Technology and Innovation
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): Digital and Cyberspace Policy
Federation of American Scientists (FAS): Technology and Innovation
Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)
Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC): Technology
Wilson Center: Science and Technology Innovation Program
Information Technology and Industry Foundation (ITIF): Center for Data Innovation
American Enterprise Institute (AEI): Technology and Innovation, Foreign and Defense Policy
Centre for the Governance of AI
Institute for Progress (IFP): Emerging Technology
Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS)
Data & Society
Manhattan Institute
Institute for Law & AI (LawAI)
Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI)

🦠 Biosecurity and pandemic preparedness policy think tanks

🇨🇳 China and tech policy think tanks

💻 Civic tech think tanks and nonprofits

Recommended resources

Articles

Showing Policy Impact Isn’t Straightforward (2023), Energy for Growth Hub
2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, University of Pennsylvania
How Does a List on a Napkin Become a New Federal Agency? Reflections on the Creation of the DFC (2020), Center for Global Development
How One Conservative Think Tank Is Stocking Trump’s Government (2018), Jonathan Maler
History of Philanthropy Case Study: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and State EITC Programs (2018)
Conspectus (2017), Niskanen Center (a detailed outline of one think tank’s activities and theory of impact)
Building a Think and Do Tank: 12 Lessons from CGD’s First 12 Years (2014), Center for Global Development
The Changing World of Think Tanks (2013), R. Kent Weaver
Devaluing the Think Tank (2012), Tevi Troy
Envelope Please: Seeking a New Way to Rank Think Tanks (2012), Center for Global Development
Washington’s Think Tanks: Factories to Call Our Own (2010), Peter W. Singer
Learning While Doing: A 12-Step Program for Policy Change (2008), Center for Global Development

Books

Daniel W. Drezner (2017), The Ideas Industry: How Pessimists, Partisans, and Plutocrats are Transforming the Marketplace of Ideas (Oxford University Press), especially chapter 5
James McGann (2016), The Fifth Estate: Think Tanks, Public Policy, and Governance (Brookings Institution Press), available online on JSTOR.
Andrew Selee (2013), What Should Think Tanks Do? A Strategic Guide to Policy Impact (Stanford University Press)
Thomas Medvetz (2012), Think Tanks in America (University of Chicago Press)
Andrew Rich (2004), Think Tanks, Public Policy, and the Politics of Expertise (Cambridge University Press), available online on Cambridge Core.
Donald E. Abelson (2002), Do Think Tanks Matter?: Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes (McGill-Queen’s University Press), available online on JSTOR.

Podcasts

Many think tanks have their own podcasts, which often feature their staff talking about research projects or the events of the day (see e.g. the Brookings Podcast Network). These are a good resource if you want to get an impression of particular think tank programs or scholars.
The 80,000 Hours Podcast has in-depth interviews with think tankers offering career advice, including Jeffrey Lewis (CNS), Helen Toner (CSET), Tom Inglesby (CHS), Andy Weber (CSR), Beth Cameron (NTI), and Samantha Pitts-Kiefer (NTI)