Research Intern - Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives

To be considered for this role, you must apply directly through our online application. 

About the Role

This paid, in-person internship in Washington, DC (25–40 hours per week over 12 weeks) joins Cato’s Center for Monetary & Financial Alternatives (CMFA) to work on US monetary policy and financial regulation.

You’ll contribute to research on the Federal Reserve, banking and securities regulation, housing finance, and financial-market innovations such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, mobile payments, and cryptocurrencies—producing concise, data-driven memos, literature reviews, and support for public-facing analysis and outreach.

You may work with Norbert J. Michel (Vice President and CMFA Director) and CMFA specialists such as Nicholas Anthony (Policy Analyst), gaining exposure to current debates and Hill engagement.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Center’s scholars with research on various topics related to monetary policy and financial markets.
• Issue areas may include the following:
  • Federal Reserve
  • Dodd-Frank Act
  • Financial markets regulation
  • Housing finance policy
  • Banking regulation
  • Financial markets innovations: crowd-funding, peer-to-peer lending, mobile payments, and cryptocurrencies
• Compile literature reviews and prepare draft memos.
• Support the Center’s social media efforts by finding relevant content to share and promote.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in—and working knowledge of—US monetary policy and financial markets/regulation, aligned with Cato’s principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
• Excellent research and policy writing—clear structure, accurate claims, and precise citations to primary sources.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (filtering/sorting, XLOOKUP or INDEX-MATCH, PivotTables); organized, well-labeled datasets.
• Quantitative skills from econometrics/statistics coursework or experience; familiarity with R, Python, or Stata for light data tasks is a plus.
• Ability to explain complex regulatory and market issues (e.g., Fed tools, Dodd-Frank, capital/liquidity rules, fintech/CBDC developments) to non-specialist audiences.
• Professionalism and reliability—can meet deadlines, communicate proactively, collaborate effectively, and incorporate feedback promptly.

The Cato Internship Program

Cato’s paid internships are available for undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students, and early-career professionals who are strongly committed to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace—principles that together form libertarianism, also known as “classical liberalism,” “market liberalism,” or, to many of our international friends, simply “liberalism.” 

All Cato interns participate in the same intensive seminar series, which covers a wide range of history, philosophy, policy, and professional development topics. Interns also assist with events and occasionally support Cato staff with other daily tasks. 

Interns receive competitive pay. Part-time roles are adjusted accordingly and require a minimum of 25 hours per week. Program participants must be able to attend in person in Washington, DC.

For more information about the internship program and experience, we encourage you to explore our website. If you have any questions, email studentprograms@cato.org.