Anna van Uden was the RIAS Academic Intern from April to June 2026. This internship was the final step to finishing her BA in Comparative European History at Radboud University Nijmegen.
My internship at the RIAS was an incredibly rewarding and enriching experience. Throughout my internship, I was involved in a wide range of responsibilities. I supported the organization of international conferences and seminars, managed the RIAS and NASA websites and social media channels, welcomed visiting researchers, and contributed to the day-to-day administration of the institute. The diversity of these tasks meant that no two days were ever the same, allowing me to develop new skills while gaining insight into how an academic institute operates behind the scenes.
One of the most valuable aspects of the internship was working directly with visiting researchers. Assisting them in locating archival materials and learning how to navigate the RIAS collections gave me practical research experience that will undoubtedly benefit me as I continue my academic career. In addition, conducting my own archival research and writing both a research paper and a piece for From the Vaults allowed me to further develop my skills as a historian in an inspiring research environment.
I also particularly enjoyed contributing to the many academic events organized by the RIAS. From helping prepare the Gender and Conservatism conference, the Roosevelt lecture and the International PhD seminar, I gained first-hand experience in the organization of academic life while having the opportunity to attend the presentations, engage with scholars, and expand my own academic horizons.
Above all, the supportive and welcoming atmosphere at the RIAS made this experience especially meaningful. I enjoyed working closely with Leontien and Gaetano, I was able to learn a lot from them. I want to thank Bálint, Femke and Jeanine for all the gezellige lunch breaks. And Lea for the fun collaboration we had when working on the social media and the website.
The combination of varied responsibilities, research opportunities, and a collaborative working environment makes the RIAS an exceptional place to learn and grow, I would highly recommend this internship to anyone who wants to develop their academic, professional and personal skills.
