Politics Internships and Opportunities

Grants up to $750 for empirical research Winter Term/Spring 2026. Empirical research includes any use of systematically gathered evidence or data (not necessarily quantitative) to answer a politically relevant question. View the grant guidelines for more information.

The Jere Bruner Research Grant in Politics was established in 2000 with gifts from the Oberlin College alumni and friends in honor of Jere Bruner, Emeritus Professor of Politics. Dr. Bruner served the College from 1967 to 1997, pursuing rigorous empirical research on such socially relevant issues as public opinion, political parties, interest groups, and the connection between race and politics. The grant encourages and supports rigorous empirical research on political topics by Oberlin students.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, November 7, 2025

Apply: Bruner Grant

Examples of past projects:

• Anonalous Voting Patterns in the American South
• The Politics of Social Movement and Natural Resource Extraction: An Analysis of Dialogue Tables
• Political Minds of Disabled America: The Importance of Disabled Social Identity in the Political Choices of Disabled Voters
• An Administrative Law Analysis of the American Data Privacy and Protection Act
• Contrasting factualness across party lines: Mitch McConnell vs. Charles “Chuck” Schumer

Apply to be Oberlin College's nominee for the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program. The program is a paid fellowship at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in Washington, D.C. The program is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. 

Applicants must be graduating seniors or individuals who have graduated within the past academic year. No one will be considered who has started graduate studies (except those who have recently completed a joint masters/bachelors program).  View the the 2026-27 Programs and Projects and Carnegie Endowment Fellowship FAQ sheet for more information.

Students interested in applying for the Gaither Junior Fellows Program are encouraged to meet with Oberlin's nominating official, Joshua Freedman (Politics), jfreedm3@oberlin.edu before preparing their materials for submission. The application for nomination is due Monday, November 24, 2025 (including letters of recommendation).

Oberlin College is invited to send two student delegates to the 65th Annual Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Student Conference, April 7-11, 2025 "The Constellation of Humanitarian Assistance: Persevering Through Conflict"
Applications are due by Thursday, February 27, 2025
NAFAC is one of the leading foreign affairs undergraduate conferences in the country. In a time marked by global uncertainty, this conference will explore intricate intersections between conflict, resilience, and humanitarian action.

SCUSA is a four-day conference, October 15-18, 2025, in which student delegates work with scholars and practitioners to develop proposals that address important topics in U.S. foreign policy.
The theme for the 76th student conference is "The Foundations and Future of America’s Global Power and Influence." The conference seeks to capture the complexities of American foreign policy in a time of significant international change and uncertainty.  Students will work with scholars and practitioners to develop policy proposals that address important topics in US foreign policy.
Oberlin College provides transportation from Cleveland to New York, and the Academy provides transportation to the conference, lodging and meals. You are responsible for transportation to the Cleveland airport. Oberlin's delegate will be selected by a sub-committee within the Politics Department. Selected delegate must accept the invitation to attend SCUSA by noon Monday, September 8, 2025 or the invitation will default to the alternate.
Applications are due by noon Friday, September 5th.
Apply: SCUSA