As an intern, we want to give you the opportunity to make a practical contribution to developing strategic policy and, in the process, gain some valuable on the job training.

An ASPI Internship provides access to some of Australia’s key contributors to defence and national security policy debates. Interns work closely with our analysts, assisting in the development of research and participating in roundtable discussions with local and international visitors to ASPI.

Interns assist research staff, conduct some of your own research and provide support for a range of ASPI events and activities.

Hear for yourselves...

Some of our fabulous interns...

Afeeya Akhand

Tell us about yourself and why you applied for the ASPI Research Internship?
I graduated from a Masters in International Security specialising in Korean language from the University of Sydney in 2022. My research interests include South Korean foreign policy, Indo-Pacific security, climate change and cultural diversity in national security. I applied for the Research Internship due to my desire to hone my research and writing skills within the think tank environment.

What is something you have gained from the ASPI Research Internship that you weren’t expecting?
During the research internship, I was quite fortunate to have the opportunity to further my research interest with respect to South Korean foreign policy by leading a report on the Australia-South Korea bilateral relationship. After the report was completed, my colleagues and I had the opportunity to brief the former South Korean Ambassador to Australia about the report’s key policy recommendations.

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of applying for the ASPI Research Internship?
Regardless of academic and/or professional background, I recommend that any recent graduate interested in ASPI’s work apply for the ASPI Research Internship. Each Research Intern possesses a unique skillset that makes them valuable to the organisation. Skills such as data analysis, foreign language proficiency and effective communication are particularly useful in ASPI’s line of work.

Angela Suriyasenee

Tell us about yourself and why you applied for the ASPI Research Internship?
I am a recent graduate of the University of Adelaide with a Double Bachelor’s in International Relations and Arts (majoring in international development), and a Master of International Security focusing on Strategic Partnerships in Southeast Asia. I am passionate about strengthening diplomacy, exploring the different ways cyber and technology intersect with security, diversity and social justice issues. As someone who was interested in non-traditional security threats and breaking into the emerging tech space, ASPI’s internship offered a unique opportunity to learn from, and engage with, some of the world’s leading experts and decision-makers in the national security field.

You are halfway through your ASPI Research Internship, tell us about your most memorable experience so far?
Being able to be a part of all the roundtables and events, and hearing directly from high-level officials, ambassadors, military delegations, academic fellows and experts is an invaluable part of this internship. For example, we got to hear from different countries’ delegations on their regional security and experiences of mis/dis-information, particularly during election periods. Not only does it inform my research and worldview, but it really gives me deeper insight into the perspectives of other nations, their priorities, concerns and the ways we can collaborate on shared challenges.

I’ve also been privileged with having fantastic mentors and colleagues that challenge and empower me. One of the most memorable experiences so far was when I received advice that really reshaped the way I viewed my career pathways and options. Being surrounded by such a supportive group of high calibre researchers and analysts, in different specialisations, has exposed me to so many fascinating areas of research and has opened my eyes to all the possibilities of meaningful work in this field.

What is something you have gained from the ASPI Research Internship that you weren’t expecting?
I knew that I wanted to delve into the cyber, technology and security space but I didn’t know just how vast it is. As a research intern in the Cyber, Tech and Security Team, I’ve been given opportunities to work on a diverse array of issues, from Australia’s sovereign technological capabilities and tech innovation ecosystems to data privacy, deceptive AI in elections, and Indo-Pacific coordination on critical technologies, each week enables me to explore something new.

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of applying for the ASPI Research Internship?
Be curious and openminded. Embrace the challenges and opportunities that this internship offers. You may find areas of research that you enjoy, that you never thought you would be interested in, and if not, you’ve had the chance to delve into a variety of issues that might reaffirm where your interests do lie. ASPI’s collaborative nature brings together people from different stages of their career with different areas of expertise. So, whether you have a background in security, economics, climate change, human rights or linguistics, your analytical skills and unique perspectives can help shape the impactful work that ASPI does and inform policies that impacts Australia and beyond.

Marcus Schultz

Tell us about yourself and why you applied for the ASPI Research Internship?
I am a recent graduate of the University of Western Australian with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations and a Master of International Relations awarded with Distinction. Having had some exposure to think tanks previously, I applied to the ASPI Research Internship to work with some of the country’s best strategic thinkers and experts and to increase my understanding of Australian strategic policy, particularly in relation to the US-Australia Alliance and all things deterrence.

What is something you have gained from the ASPI Research Internship that you weren’t expecting?
I have gained technical skills working in a development environment through exposure to ASPI’s Techtracker project. The opportunity to learn R, RStudio and Git as well as familiarise myself with data analytics best practices has been a welcome and fulfilling experience. Using these newfound tools has not only opened up avenues for collaboration across different teams at ASPI but also furthered my ability to conduct quantitative research using evidence-based methodologies.

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of applying for the ASPI Research Internship?
Interns are extended a great deal of trust and independence to pursue their own research interests, making the ASPI Research Internship a perfect entry point into a rewarding career. I would encourage any applicant, regardless of age, experience or background, to be inquisitive and prepared to pitch new ideas.

Shivangi Seth

Tell us about yourself and why you applied for the ASPI Research Internship?
I’m an IR and human rights enthusiast with a Bachelor’s degree in History and International Relations and a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the ANU. I am passionate about research and writing, specifically in anything to do with South Asian geopolitics, transitional justice, peacebuilding, and the Women, Peace, Security agenda. I wanted to work with a research organisation that contributed to Australia’s national and international policymaking on areas of both traditional and non-traditional security, and that is what led me to ASPI.

What is something you have gained from the ASPI Research Internship that you weren’t expecting?
Through my internship, I have been given the opportunity to develop expertise in cyber security, cyber capacity-building, and the international norms and law surrounding it. Cyber policy is a completely new area of research for me, but doing this research has helped me establish a valuable foundation in a topic that is of critical importance for both public and private organisations in today’s geopolitical environment.

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of applying for the ASPI Research Internship?
Find a healthy balance between how you can contribute to ASPI’s ongoing projects to hone your research, project management, and organisational skills while simultaneously building on your own research interests. ASPI provides an extremely supportive environment for interns to pitch their own research projects based on their areas of interest – use this opportunity to tap into the amazing network of scholars and reviewers that ASPI provides and build your niche.

Adam Ziogas

Tell us about yourself and why you applied for the ASPI Research Internship?
I am a graduate of a Masters in International Relations and Regional Studies with a specialisation in EU-Russia studies. Enthusiastic about impactful research and informed policy, APSI is a perfect middle-ground between academia and politics. The internship provided me with valuable practical experience in an opportunity to pursue my research interests with real-world impact.

You are halfway through your ASPI Research Internship, tell us about your most memorable experience so far?
Halfway through the internship, one of the most memorable moments is having my first article published in The Strategist. It was so rewarding to see a concrete outcome of research, and to receive positive external responses after its publication.

What is something you have gained from the ASPI Research Internship that you weren’t expecting?
One of the best parts of the internship is the opportunity to attend and partake in a variety of ASPI’s roundtables and external events. These were an unexpected opportunity to meet with influential external stakeholders and engage in interesting discussion on the topics we work on in a practical manner.

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of applying for the ASPI Research Internship?
ASPI interns are accorded a great deal of independence and opportunity, and the internship presents unique possibilities to explore your research interests and be heard by the policy-making community.