Paid Policy Internship in New Delhi: Asia Society Policy Institute Opens Science & Technology Placements for Global South Talent

The Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) is now recruiting for a paid Science and Technology Internship based in New Delhi. Designed for early-career researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners from the Global South, this placement provides immersive, project-driven experience in international technology policy-an opportunity to help shape debates about innovation, governance, and strategic competition across the Indo‑Pacific and related regions.

What the Science and Technology Internship Involves

This full‑time, salaried internship embeds participants within ASPI’s New Delhi policy team. Interns work alongside senior fellows and researchers on active policy engagements, producing substantive analysis rather than performing primarily administrative duties. Typical outputs include concise policy briefs, evidence-based memos, stakeholder maps, and backgrounders intended for government ministries, multilateral partners, and private-sector actors.

• Paid, career-oriented placement emphasizing rigorous research and policy analysis.
• Hands-on engagement in cross-border technology discussions, standards work, and digital public infrastructure initiatives.
• Mentorship focused on equity-centred innovation and elevating perspectives from the Global South.
• Possibilities to contribute to ASPI commentaries, reports, and public briefings.

Primary Policy Areas and Typical Contributions

Interns will rotate across several thematic streams. Below are the core focus areas and examples of the kinds of work interns might carry out.

• Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies – Monitor regulatory developments, prepare comparative policy briefs, and draft governance options that are sensitive to resource and institutional constraints in developing countries.
• Digital Public Goods and Infrastructure – Map pilots and interoperability efforts, evaluate scalability of public digital systems, and assess privacy and inclusion safeguards for low‑resource settings.
• Climate Tech and Clean Energy Innovation – Analyze how technological solutions can support mitigation and adaptation pathways, and produce short policy notes for ministries designing incentive programs.
• Geo-technology and Strategic Competition – Track how technology deployment affects regional power dynamics and contribute to policy proposals that strengthen cooperative, South-led responses.

Why New Delhi Is a Strategic Base for This Paid Policy Internship

Positioned in India’s capital, the internship benefits from proximity to major policy laboratories and fast-evolving digital ecosystems. New Delhi provides a vantage point to follow regulatory shifts in South and Southeast Asia, and to engage with initiatives in Africa and Latin America through South‑South exchanges.

India’s digital public architecture-ranging from its biometric identity system (covering well over a billion residents) to real-time payment rails that process billions of transactions-offers prolific case studies on how interoperable, state‑backed platforms can expand access and spur innovation. These systems are frequently referenced in global conversations about digital inclusion, regulatory safeguards, and public‑private collaboration.

Global policy dynamics are part of the backdrop as well: the EU’s AI Act (2023) and growing multilateral attention to cross‑border data governance have elevated technology governance on diplomatic agendas. Interns at ASPI work at the intersection of these global trends and the specific needs of the Global South.

Illustrative Projects You Could Lead

• Draft an actionable briefing for a South Asian ministry on AI procurement safeguards, recommending contractual clauses and audit mechanisms suitable for public sector use.
• Map interoperability challenges between national digital ID pilots in East Africa and propose low-cost governance mechanisms to enable cross-border services.
• Run a brief quantitative analysis of adoption rates for a solar microgrid subsidy in a coastal region and synthesize findings into a one-page recommendation for local policymakers.
• Design and facilitate a multi‑stakeholder roundtable-bringing regulators, NGOs, and industry together-to negotiate principles for data portability across a regional bloc.

How to Make a Competitive Application

Selection panels look for clear evidence that applicants can translate technical material into practical policy guidance. Beyond transcripts, reviewers prize demonstrated impact, methodological competence, and regional insight.

• Tailor your writing samples – include one concise analytical memo aimed at decision-makers and one public-facing piece (op‑ed, blog, or policy brief) that connects technology to development or governance in the Global South.
• Highlight technical skills – list quantitative or qualitative methods, coding (Python/R), data visualization, or GIS work where relevant; link to a GitHub or portfolio if available.
• Show regional fluency – explain how your experience reflects knowledge of India and neighboring markets, including any work on South‑South cooperation.
• Choose strong referees – select recommenders who can speak to your analytical rigour, ability to meet tight deadlines, and capacity to communicate complex ideas to non-specialists.

What Reviewers Prioritize

• Relevance of background – academic and professional experience that ties to science and technology policy.
• Quality of writing – clear, evidence-based arguments and recommendations for policymakers.
• Regional understanding – concrete knowledge of India and broader Global South contexts.
• Professional presentation – well-organized documents, precision, and factual accuracy.

Logistics, Timeline, and Practical Advice

These positions attract strong interest from across low‑ and middle‑income countries. Applicants should prepare a concise CV (ideally one page, up to two), targeted writing samples, and a brief cover letter that links past work to ASPI’s thematic priorities. Wherever possible, quantify outcomes-e.g., “policy brief X contributed to a municipal regulation” or “analysis supported program design used by an NGO.”

Practical tips:

• Confirm visa and travel requirements well in advance of your proposed start date.
• Be prepared to collaborate across time zones for regional coordination and stakeholder consultations.
• Demonstrate adaptability: policy work often requires both rapid-response notes and longer-term research outputs.

Career Value for Global South Candidates

Beyond on‑the‑job learning, a paid policy internship at the Asia Society Policy Institute strengthens professional networks and provides visible credentials for careers in international policy, government, multilateral agencies, or think tanks. More importantly, the placement amplifies Global South perspectives in international norm-setting-helping to ensure that emerging standards account for diverse governance capacities and development priorities.

Next Steps

As recruitment opens, prospective applicants should move quickly to assemble targeted materials and secure references. The ASPI Science and Technology Internship in New Delhi is a timely, paid opportunity for emerging leaders from the Global South to engage with pressing questions at the nexus of technology, governance, and geopolitics-and to contribute to policy choices that will shape inclusive digital futures.