Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization:

The Illinois Policy Institute is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research organization dedicated to advocating for taxpayers and amplifying the voices of regular Illinoisans in government decisions. Our mission is to prment, and economic opportunities for all. We are committed to educating and engaging Illinoisans from all walks of life to ensure our state is a place whereomote personal liberties, effective and accountable governeveryone has the opportunity to thrive. Illinois is a place we should all be proud to call home.

Internship Summary:

If you’re looking for a boring internship full of rotes tasks and little learning, this is NOT the opportunity for you. The Illinois Policy Institute is seeking an intern to be part of a high-performing team on which you’ll learn how to conduct research that makes a difference. You’ll help analyze policies that make it harder for Illinoisans to thrive and to craft free market solutions that will bring more liberty, opportunity, and prosperity to all, especially the least well off.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research for articles and reports on diverse policy areas such as poverty, social mobility, housing, jobs, education, crime, taxes, and more.
• Source and analyze data related to policy issues, contributing to evidence-based research.
• Write articles addressing a range of policy topics affecting Illinois residents.
• Fact-check research conducted by Institute policy experts.
• Collaborate with the policy team to develop impactful free market solutions.
• File Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to uncover government data not available to the general public.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pursuing a degree with a focus on political science, government, law, economics, econometrics, public policy, or statistics.
• Proficient in data analysis and possess strong writing skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and keen attention to detail.
• Effective team player with a positive attitude.
• Familiarity with data analysis software such as R, SAS, or STATA is a plus.
• Interest in mentorship from a graduate student mentor/co-intern.

About the Supervisor:

Your supervisor will be Josh Bandoch, the Head of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. Before joining IPI, Josh was a Research Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a speechwriter for numerous senior government officials, a strategic communications consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and a postdoctoral fellow at Brown University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned his bachelor’s in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame.

Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students
• Domestic and international students

Location, Modality and Commute:

Our policy team is in the office Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Ideally, our intern would work in the office on at least one of those days as their schedule permits. Our offices are located at: 300 S. Riverside Plaza Suite 1650, Chicago, IL, 60606. From Hyde Park students can take the 28 bus to the Union Station Transit Center which is across the street from our offices.

Start and End Date:

The Academic Year internships will take place according to the IOP’s timeline, with specific dates and weekly hours to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process:

• Onboarding: November – December 2025
• Intern Work Period: January – May 2026