Philosophers do Internships

Where and when did you do your internship and what did you do as an intern?

In 2025, I was selected as a Summer Fellow by the Institute for Liberal Studies, a Canadian organization that hosts educational programs promoting the ideas of freedom and liberty from a classical liberal perspective. My internship placement was with the Alberta Institute, a public policy think tank focused on municipal and provincial governance issues. Over the summer, I worked on a variety of policy issues including rezoning, school board transparency, and red tape reduction. I was responsible for researching and developing policy proposals that advanced the aims of the organization, and for producing legislative summaries keeping track of the bills passed (and overall activities) of provincial government representatives. Part of doing policy is learning to communicate information to different audiences in an accessible way, which is a skill I gained during this internship - among many others. Below is a full list of my internship duties:

• Analyzed and interpreted data related to municipal government policies 
• Translated city budget information and council voting records into accessible formats using visual aids and infographics
• Reviewed and summarized city council minutes and public documents to create clear, concise outlines for a general audience
• Collaborated with senior staff on data collection and policy evaluations
• Drafted policy briefs and weekly outreach emails discussing current events and targeted engagement opportunities for supporters

I also had many opportunities to network with industry professionals through events and conferences, which I greatly appreciated since I would not otherwise have had access to these spaces. After the internship concluded, I was offered ongoing employment with the Alberta Institute as a part-time policy researcher. As of March 2026, I still work there and continue to enjoy it. 

The internship also offered weekly webinars and readings groups that created opportunities for further study. At the end of the internship, all the Summer Fellows attended Freedom Week at McGill University in Montreal. Freedom Week is a 5-day learning experience involving lectures, discussion groups, workshops, and networking opportunities. I had a wonderful time and met so many people with interests similar and different from my own. The ILS did a wonderful job of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment free of judgement, allowing students with diverse backgrounds to to engage in respectful discussion.

How did you find out about or generate the opportunity to do the internship?

I found out about the ILS through an email that advertised the internship program, but another student in the department was already part of their PPE graduate fellowship program and encouraged me to apply. I have always been interested in classical liberalism and political philosophy more generally, so it made sense for me to get involved with this organization. I put in my application in February 2025 and was selected for an interview shortly after the deadline (which was successful) and my information was passed along to the organization I was eventually paired with. I went through a second-stage interview with the Alberta Institute and was then selected for the placement in early April 2025. The internship began at the end of May and concluded in August 2025. 

Did you find that doing the internship was useful? What did you get out of it?

I have previously described this internship as “life-changing”, and I meant it: it was in large part due to this experience that I shifted my career path from academic philosophy to public policy. I was originally planning to pursue a PhD in philosophy (and I may still do this someday), but I fell in love with policy work over the summer and making the transition felt right. I applied and was accepted to the policy school here at the University of Calgary and will begin a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree in September 2026. The internship allowed me to see other career possibilities and applications for my research, which is largely in the philosophy of psychiatry and medicine - something that translates nicely into the health policy realm. I look forward to putting my analytical skills to good use in the public sector and helping to shape the future of mental health and disability policy in Canada. 

I also made lifelong friends with my fellow interns, published several op-eds, and made valuable connections in the policy space. I have continued to be involved with the ILS since the conclusion of my internship, attending lectures and participating in discussion groups whenever I can. I hope to attend their graduate-level summer seminar this year in Kelowna. In January 2026, I was selected as a recipient of the John Dobson Bursary for the Study of Free Enterprise - an opportunity I wouldn’t have had without this internship.

Did you get paid? How much and by whom?

The internship was a full-time opportunity (40 hours/week) from June-August 2025. I was paid about $7000 by the organization and received additional funding from the Transformative Talent Internship Program through the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary, which brough my total compensation above $10,000 after the hourly rate top-up, work-integrated learning bursary, and final completion award. 

What should a grad student interested in doing an internship know that you wish someone had told you before you applied or did it?

When I applied, I had no idea that I would get as far as I did. I honestly doubted that I had the right qualifications or background, but my experience is proof that you can’t know the outcome unless you put yourself in the running. Apply even if you think you won’t get an interview! Try to take advantage of as many opportunities for engagement and learning as you can while you’re still in grad school, because you never know who you’ll meet and what you’re capable of. A year ago, if you’d told me I’d be pursuing public policy instead of philosophy, I’d be in disbelief. I hadn’t imagined the future the way it is now and while I will always hold a special place for philosophy in my heart, I am deeply grateful to have been given the opportunity to expand my horizons and see what’s possible.