Graduate Student Researcher – Data

Furman Center; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 34,095 - 48,560; Full time

Job summary

The NYU Furman Center is hiring enrolled NYU graduate students to work as graduate researchers on a rolling basis throughout the year, with Fall 2026 intake. The position emphasizes exploratory data analysis, data cleaning, and quantitative analysis to support housing and urban policy research.

Responsibilities include data visualization, mapping, programming in R/Python, and responding to data requests from external organizations.

Qualifications

• Applicants should be enrolled NYU graduate students.
• Strong quantitative aptitude and ability to work with data using Excel or database tools.
• Experience with GIS tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Exploratory data analysis.
• Data cleaning and documentation.
• Quantitative analysis and data descriptions.
• Mapping and spatial analysis.
• Data visualization.
• Programming in R or Python.
• Responding to data requests from external organizations.
• Reviewing and updating analyses and applying new methods in computational social sciences.

Skills

R

Python

Stata

SQL

Excel

GIS

Education

Graduate student at NYU

Tools

R

Python

SQL

Job description

The NYU Furman Center hires enrolled NYU graduate students to work as graduate researchers on a rolling basis throughout the year. We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2026.

NYU Furman Center’s mission includes a commitment to train the next generation of urban policy leaders. In furtherance of this commitment, we strive to ensure that graduate students work on projects that help meet their longer-term academic and career goals. Graduate students are an integral part of the NYU Furman Center team and are engaged in all aspects of the Center’s work, including all-team brainstorming sessions, research, and public events. We also plan events throughout the year targeted to our student team, including skill-building sessions, academic research seminars, and alumni networking opportunities. We believe that an in-depth understanding of data and its context is a fundamental skill set for evidence-based policymaking, and we provide learning opportunities to that end through day-to-day data work at the Furman Center.

At the NYU Furman Center, our work is a reflection of the amazing people that make up our team, and we are committed to fostering a community that values diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. All candidates should exhibit an interest in the Center’s research areas (housing, neighborhoods, and urban policy).

Day-to-day activities may include: exploratory data analysis, data cleaning, documentation and data descriptions, quantitative analysis, mapping and spatial analysis, data visualization, and programming. Responsibilities may also include responding to data requests from external organizations, reviewing and updating old analyses, and researching and applying new methods in computational social sciences. We anticipate at least 50-60% of the time of this position to be exploratory data work and data cleaning.

Qualifications and Skills: Applicants with one or more of the following qualifications are encouraged to apply:

• General programming: R, Python, Stata, or similar
• Database querying: SQL, or similar
• Microsoft Excel
• Experience with GIS programming & tools

Please highlight relevant skills and your degree of proficiency in your resume or cover letter. The strongest applications include samples of prior work or other documentation demonstrating experience or aptitude in these areas. In particular, applicants without programming experience should demonstrate strong quantitative aptitude along with proficiency in general-use data applications (Excel, Access, Salesforce, etc.) or experience in quantitative environments, such as consulting, engineering, or financial management.

Newly-hired graduate researchers must commit 15-20 hours per week during the school year and may work up to 35 hours/week during summer and holiday breaks. We are currently asking students to work at least two-thirds of their hours in-person at our office; students may choose to work the rest of their hours in-person or remotely.

Performance will be evaluated through informal and formal check-ins with their direct supervisor: either a Data and Policy/Research Analyst, the Director of Data and Policy, or another designated full-time staff member of the Furman Center.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the hourly base salary range for student employment positions are $17.00 per hour for undergraduate and Law students and $30.00 per hour for graduate students. The hourly rate for graduate employees is based on the collective bargaining agreement with Local 7902.

To Apply: Interested candidates should email the required documents below as attachments [e-mail] the subject line “Graduate Researcher Application: Data (Fall 2026).” Please also indicate in your application your fall semester availability and when you are available to begin working.

• Current resume
• Writing sample (1-3 pages)
• Academic transcripts for undergraduate and past/current graduate degree work (unofficial copies of the transcript are acceptable)
• Code sample (required; R or Python code sample is preferred)

EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.

About the Furman Center

We provide objective, policy-relevant research and data analyses on housing policy for New York City and across the U.S.

Our team of faculty and staff have wide-ranging expertise in economics, public policy, and land use that work to advance housing and urban policy.