Graduate Internship
If you had the power to solve a strategic problem in the Pacific, what would it be? In Spring 2026, a select group of San Diego graduate students will put their ideas into action.
The La Jolla Center for Pacific Strategy’s Graduate Internship empowers San Diego-area graduate students to lead 10-week Strategy Sprints with working groups made up of local and regional stakeholders from industry, academia, and the NGO sectors.
Show the world and future employers what you can do with the power of social strategy — because at The La Jolla Center, we don’t just study strategy, we lead it.
As a Graduate Intern, you will:
Develop a strategy development proposal
Lead an interdisciplinary, cross-functional working group through The La Jolla Center’s Social Strategy Development Process
Publish an issue brief, a strategy white paper, and present your strategy to an audience of philanthropists, policymakers, and industry partners
Earn academic credit toward your master’s degree at participating graduate schools — including UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy*
Application Requirements
We’re looking for graduate students who are ready to turn ideas into action. Successful applicants demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and the ability to lead diverse teams toward practical solutions in the Pacific.
Eligibility:
Currently enrolled in a San Diego-area master’s or Ph.D. program (all disciplines welcome)
Available to participate in hybrid weekly meetings from April to June 2026
Application Materials:
Curriculum Vitae
Unofficial Transcripts (Graduate and Undergraduate)
Strategy Sprint Proposal
Proof of US Citizenship (Defense & National Security Only)
Strategy Sprint Proposal
Unlike most internships, our Graduate Interns don’t just assist on projects — they lead them. As part of the application process, each candidate will submit a Strategy Sprint Proposal outlining the project they hope to lead during the internship.
The Strategy Sprint Proposal should be no more than 2000 words and include the following:
Identify which of the Center’s program areas your project aligns with.
Identify the long-term strategic problem you would like to influence.
Identify the impacted populations.
Identify local and regional stakeholders and their interests.
Identify San Diego-based experts, non-govenmental organizations, companies, or government agencies with relevant expertise or interests.
Define success. What does the world look like when your problem is solved? Provide required conditions and a goal date for achieving them.
Outline 3–5 actionable first steps that could begin moving toward your desired end state.
Ready to get started? Download the proposal template below and begin shaping your Strategy Sprint.