Socio-Cultural Analyst Intern; Strong Writing & Research Skills

Join Our Talented Team at Protagonist

We fuse rigorous, methodologically sound analysis with our cutting‑edge technology platform, Narrative Analytics®. This powerful combination enables us to quantitatively analyze open‑source media, deliver strategic recommendations, and craft executive‑level communication strategies for clients with missions that matter.

Our team is a vibrant mix of communication specialists, data scientists, and subject matter experts with extensive experience across U.S. Government agencies, non‑profit organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. By joining Protagonist, you'll immerse yourself in a collaborative environment where innovation thrives, and your contributions truly matter.

• Innovative Solutions: We co‑develop cutting‑edge solutions with our clients to address tough communication problems and capitalize on opportunities to make a tangible impact.
• Data‑Driven Insights: Our tools and methodologies provide actionable insights that help clients meet their communication objectives and stay ahead of global challenges.
• Applied Expertise: We integrate our solutions within client organizations, leveraging our profound expertise to address critical issues and ensure sustainable success.

At Protagonist, you'll work on compelling projects that make a real difference. We seek talented individuals eager to contribute to our mission and grow alongside us. If you're passionate about communication, data analysis, and making an impact, we invite you to explore a career with Protagonist.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Join us at Protagonist and be part of a team that's making a difference.

Location: Washington, DC |
Commitment: Minimum 20 hours/week |
Format: In-Office with Remote Opportunities (Starting Immediately)

The Protagonist Intern has a passion for understanding the deeply held beliefs -- the narratives -- that drive critical issues. Our interns support the continued development of our Narrative Analytics offering and related products by finding and isolating the conversations that matter — from both online media and traditional sources. You have a passion for understanding what drives the deeply held beliefs held by populations around the world, are data‑savvy, have outstanding analytical skills, and are creative and enthusiastic about using the power of narratives to understand how perceptions drive action.

Attention to detail and comfort with ambiguity are key attributes.

• Conduct qualitative research on various international populations to understand the narratives that shape their beliefs, perceptions and views of the world.
• Work with teams to articulate the narratives held by various international populations, and write reports that clearly and succinctly convey the team's findings.
• Support identification of subject matter experts on selected countries, conduct research on key heroes, villains and historical eras of importance.
• Implement research plans for assigned projects, based on discussions with members of various project teams.
• Collaborate with the case teams to identify and visualize insights that answer key client questions.

• Authorized to work in the US.
• This is not a fully remote position; interns must be able to work in our Washington DC office 1-2 days per week.
• Must currently be enrolled in a degree‑seeking program (e.g., pursuing a BA, MA, PhD, etc.).
• Must be able to work on US Government contracts that may be restricted to US citizens; existing security clearance (SECRET or higher) a plus.
• Strong research and writing skills are required, including ability to synthesize open‑source research and independently write an international affairs/history analysis piece.
• Experience with in‑depth research using a variety of techniques to mine insights from both primary (e.g., interviews) and secondary sources (e.g., journals).
• Course work in international relations and/or a focus in communications and related fields is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills; able to communicate complex problems with clarity.
• Able to work independently as…