The Brookings Institution

Equal-Opportunity Employer: It is Brookings policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all of its employees and applicants without regard to their actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, citizenship status, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination as required by law.

Research Assistant, Retirement Security Project, Economic Studies (Job ID: 2026-3795)

US-DC-Washington

Job ID: 2026-3795
Type: Regular, Temporary Appointment
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research
1. Resident Employee (Hybrid)

Overview

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors

About the Economic Studies Program: The Economic Studies program analyzes current and emerging economic issues facing the United States and the world and, based on that research, provides innovative, practical policy recommendations. ES’s work covers a broad array of economic issues, including economic growth, economic opportunity and mobility, the labor market, regulation, health policy, the environment, tax policy, retirement policy, and fiscal and monetary policy. Economic Studies scholars influence key economic policies by conducting rigorous and relevant research and then disseminating and communicating their findings to the policy community and to the broader public.

About the Retirement Security Project: The Retirement Security Project produces rigorous evidence and analysis to help all Americans achieve a financially secure retirement. We aim to provide decisionmakers with innovative and evidence-based ideas and analysis to improve retirement security, combining academic thought leadership with legal and policy expertise to address critical retirement challenges. Areas of focus include quantifying and mitigating the risks of deteriorations in physical and cognitive health on retirement security, addressing the fiscal implications of an aging population, and delivering affordable access to long-term care.

Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of two days of remote work each week

Please Note: This position is included in the staff bargaining unit, Brookings United, affiliated with the IFPTE Local 70 union, and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings success?

The Research Assistant undertakes research and policy analysis on a range of economic, health and social policy issues for one or more fellows or senior fellows. Duties for this position include a) research assistance; b) drafting materials and working papers, blogs and other publications; d) verification of statistical calculations, literature searches, and computer work; and e) assisting the fellow and other staff with the management of projects.

Quantitative Analysis, Programming, and Statistical Assistance (50%)

• Works jointly with senior scholars, prepares and revises programming code, simulation macros, database files and regression estimates.

• Analyzes data, using statistical packages and spreadsheets.

• Prepares tables and graphs output from model simulations.

• Updates and checks existing databanks; assembles, consolidates, and checks data from new sources.

Research Assistance (40%)

• In collaboration with senior research staff, drafts material summarizing research results on specific topics as assigned, for incorporation into working papers and project publications.

• Provides analytical reviews and summaries of existing literature pertinent to the projects.

• Locates and collects relevant documents and data from sources such as electronic databases, libraries, and government publications.

• Compiles, reads, abstracts, and organizes written material into bibliographic form and summaries.

• Maintains electronic bibliography files.

• Assists with special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Center Support (10%)

• Updates web pages in support of the scholar’s area of interest.

• Writes and edits summaries to be posted on pages relating to scholar's work.

• Gathers related bibliographic, link and current event information in support of pages to be created for a scholar's topic area.

• Works with ES communications team to prepare, lay out, and post scholar’s work for publication on the web site.

• Coordinates with ES communications team on scholar’s publication schedule.

• Assists designated scholar(s) with event preparation and logistics as needed.

Qualifications
Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:

Education/Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Mathematics/Statistics, Public Policy, or other Social Sciences with a minor in Economics required. One-year job experience in economics, policy research, and/or computer modeling preferred but not required. Competence to undertake research assignments with little supervision required. Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Knowledge/Skill Requirements

Strong computer skills and experience required. Experience handling large data sets and models preferred. Independent research experience preferred. Experience with software such as STATA, R or other econometric packages required.

Additional Information

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous time off, and workplace flexibility. For more information, please visit Brookings Benefits.

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply.Please note: if you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment.

Application Procedure

Please read and follow all application procedures carefully. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

A complete application will include ALL of the following items:

• Current resume
• Cover letter
• A copy of your latest (unofficial) undergraduate transcript (and a graduate transcript if applicable)
  o If you are submitting an international transcript, please be sure to include a Grade Key
• One writing sample (research-based product)

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings.

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms, including diversity of experience, thought, and personal background. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.All selection decisions are based upon merit, skills, abilities and experience.