Graduate Student Summer Associate Program
RAND’s Graduate Student Summer Associate Program offers a 12-week paid research internship for advanced graduate students to work on multidisciplinary policy research projects with RAND mentors.
Funder: RAND Corporation
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026
Funding Amounts: ~$15,000 for 12 weeks (full-time summer research internship)
Summary: 12-week, full-time research internship for advanced graduate students to work on multidisciplinary projects with RAND mentors.
Key Information: U.S. residency required for summer 2026; hybrid and remote options available; highly competitive (less than 10% acceptance rate).
Description
The RAND Graduate Student Summer Associate Program is a 12-week, full-time paid research internship designed to immerse outstanding graduate students in RAND’s multidisciplinary research environment. Summer Associates are matched with mentors and ongoing research projects that align with their skills and interests, enabling them to contribute to impactful work in areas such as social policy, national security, health, education, and more. The program emphasizes diversity of thought and background, offers professional development and networking opportunities, and allows participants to present their research at the end of the program. The experience includes seminars, events, and social activities to provide a comprehensive understanding of RAND’s collaborative and innovative culture.
