Research Assistant/Associate, Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility

American Enterprise Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated research assistant or associate to join their Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility. This role involves conducting quantitative research on critical topics such as social mobility and safety-net programs. You will collaborate with experienced scholars, support various research stages, and contribute to impactful policy solutions. Ideal candidates will have a strong academic background and experience in statistical analysis using tools like Microsoft Excel, R, and Stata. This is a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged Americans through rigorous research and innovative policy development.

Qualifications

• 0-4 years of quantitative research experience required based on position level.
• Strong proficiency in statistical tools like R and Stata is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support all stages of the research process, including data cleaning and analysis.
• Collaborate with the research team on policy databases and data visualizations.

Skills

Quantitative Research

Statistical Analysis

Econometrics

Data Cleaning

Attention to Detail

Independent Research

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics

Bachelor's degree in Mathematics

Bachelor's degree in Statistics

Tools

Microsoft Excel

R

Stata

Job description

Overview

The Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility (COSM) at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks a full-time, in-person research assistant or associate to work with scholars Kevin Corinth and Scott Winship starting in summer 2025.

Launched at the beginning of 2023, COSM seeks to shrink opportunity gaps facing disadvantaged Americans and strengthen social mobility by publishing rigorous research and developing innovative policy solutions.

The research assistant or associate will conduct quantitative research on US safety-net programs, social capital, intergenerational mobility, and housing, among other topics.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover letter noting their previous empirical research experience and understanding of policies promoting social mobility, unofficial academic transcripts, and a complete writing sample, ideally an independently conducted piece of academic research.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate and support all stages of the research process by
  • Building and cleaning datasets from various sources, including the Current Population Survey, while ensuring the data’s accuracy;
  • Applying and conducting rigorous statistical and econometric analysis using Microsoft Excel, R, and Stata;
  • Conducting in-depth reviews of academic literature and public policy documents to analyze information and support research projects;
  • Creating and formatting charts, graphic displays, and tables to visualize findings for policy audiences;
  • Assisting in writing and editing research papers and scholarly reports.
• Contribute to broader COSM-wide projects, such as building policy databases and creating data visualizations based on the center’s research.
• Coordinate and work with COSM’s research team to support the center’s broader mission.
• Work internally with other AEI teams on events, conferences, and outreach for scholars’ work.

Qualifications

• Assistant: 0–2 years of previous, full-time, applicable quantitative research experience
• Associate: 2–4 years of previous, full-time, applicable quantitative research experience
• A bachelor’s degree (required) in economics, mathematics, statistics, or a related field (strongly preferred)
• Quantitative skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel and R or Stata (required)
• A demonstrated interest in public policy and familiarity with US safety-net programs (required), plus related research experience in public policy (preferred)
• Demonstrated experience performing empirical research independently and on a team (required)
• Familiarity with analyzing data from surveys, such as the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (strongly preferred)
• Strong initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently