Research Associate

Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is offering a two-year Research Associate program for recent graduates in economics, math, statistics, or related fields. Positions start in June 2027 in Boston, MA, with a salary of $78,000 and full-time hours, primarily on-site for residents of the First District.

RAs work with economists on research projects, using Stata, Python, MATLAB, R, SAS or similar tools, and contribute to monetary policy, regulation, and financial markets analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, math, statistics, CS, IR with economics concentration.
• Strong analytical, communications, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with programming languages and statistical software such as Stata, Python, Matlab, R.
• Prior research or classroom experience analyzing data.

Responsibilities

• Review, organize, and analyze economic and financial data.
• Write programs using statistical software such as Stata, MATLAB, R, SAS or Python.
• Conduct literature reviews, perform data analysis, and prepare summaries for economists.
• Prepare charts and tables using spreadsheet and data visualization software.
• Conduct economic research for policy memos and for articles intended for publication by The Boston Fed, academic journals, and business periodicals.
• Design programs to clean data, perform statistical tests, and run regressions.
• Update and maintain data series regularly used by economists.
• Proofread, edit, and fact‑check articles and papers.

Skills

Stata

Python

R

Matlab

Econometrics

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in economics, math, statistics, computer science, international relations with economics concentration

Job description

Company

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. As an employee of the Boston Fed, you will work to promote sound growth and financial stability in New England and the nation. You will contribute to communities, the region, and the nation by conducting economic research, participating in monetary policy‑making, supervising certain financial institutions, providing financial services and payments, playing a leadership role in the payments industry, and supporting economic well‑being in communities through a variety of efforts. The Boston Fed is one of 12 Reserve Banks and we serve all or parts of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Our mission is accomplished through our Bank's values: community, innovation, integrity, trust, leadership, and excellence.

Program Overview

The Research Associate (RA) program at the Boston Fed is a two‑year program designed for recent college graduates with a background in economics, math, statistics, or related fields. RAs work with economists on a variety of research projects and provide support for ongoing analysis of the New England, U.S., and global economies and monetary policy, as well as bank regulation, the payments system and financial markets. Positions are available in our Research Department that start in June 2027.

Location & Work Arrangement

The position will be primarily on‑site. The individual is expected to reside in the First District.

Position Details

Position: Research Associate 2027
Location: Boston, MA
Salary: $78,000
Contract type: Full time
Working hours: Regular (40 hours per week)

Responsibilities

• Review, organize, and analyze economic and financial data.
• Write programs using statistical software such as Stata, MATLAB, R, SAS or Python.
• Conduct literature reviews, perform thorough data analysis, and prepare written summaries of results for economists.
• Prepare charts and tables using spreadsheet and data visualization software packages.
• Conduct economic research for policy memos and for articles intended for publication by The Boston Fed, academic journals, and business periodicals.
• Design programs to clean data, perform statistical tests, and run regressions.
• Update and maintain data series regularly used by economists.
• Proofread, edit, and fact‑check articles and papers.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in economics, math, statistics, computer science, international relations, or related field with concentration in economics.
• Strong analytical, communications, and organization skills.
• Familiarity with programming languages and statistical software packages such as Stata, Python, Matlab, R, and knowledge of statistics and econometrics.
• Prior research or classroom experience analyzing data.

Other Requirements

Research Associate positions require U.S. citizenship.

EEO / Diversity Statement

The Federal Reserve Bank is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and to provide equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, or military service.

Security & Background Check

All employees assigned to this position will be subject to FBI fingerprint/ criminal background and Patriot Act/ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) watch list checks at least once every five years. For this job, any offer of employment is contingent upon successfully passing a two‑phase security screening. The first phase consists of the satisfactory completion of a physical examination (including a drug screening), reference checks, and a security investigation consisting of credit and criminal history checks. The second phase, which might not be complete until after you begin working at the Reserve Bank, is an additional risk‑based security screening determined by the risk rating of the position. Depending on the sensitivity of the position, this phase may include, and is not limited to, work and residency eligibility verification, and personal interviews with the candidate, references, and prior employers. All candidates must undergo an enhanced background check and comply with all applicable information handling rules. All applicants must have resided in the United States for at least three (3) years.

Employment Conditions

Full time / Regular / Job Exempt: Yes.

Additional Information

Want to learn more about our RA Program? The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston believes in salary transparency. The final salary and offer will be determined by the applicant’s background, skills, internal equity, and alignment with market data.