Research Intern - HumanProgress.org

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 HumanProgress.org, working closely with Marian L. Tupy (Senior Fellow) and Chelsea Follett (Policy Analyst, Managing Editor).

The news is full of doom and gloom—but is that really true? At HumanProgress, we focus on trendlines instead of headlines, using empirical evidence to demonstrate how life is getting better in areas like health, wealth, education, the environment, innovation, and freedom. 

Day to day, you’ll collect and verify global indicators, edit contributions from scholars and journalists, and turn findings into clear visuals and posts for a wide audience—promoting individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.

Responsibilities

• Identify and analyze data on human progress, including increased access to clean drinking water and advancements in space exploration.
• Edit scholarly papers, journalistic articles, and blog posts.
• Create social media posts and eye-catching graphics.

Qualifications

• Alignment with Cato’s principles—individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
• Strong interest in international development and technological progress; committed to analyzing trendlines (not headlines) with data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and disciplined data hygiene (clean structure, consistent units/definitions, source-labeled charts).
• Familiarity with international datasets (World Bank, UN, OECD, Our World in Data) and experience comparing countries over time.
• Meticulous editing and fact-checking with accurate citations and careful attention to detail.
• Ability to translate complex findings into clear, concise copy and simple, readable visuals for general audiences (Photoshop a plus).

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, D.C.  

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.