The Research Associate assists scholars with tasks in a fast-paced environment, including research, administrative, and communications responsibilities while taking part in the Cato Institute’s Research Associate Program. The position is ideal for someone looking to begin a career in education policy.
The Cato Institute’s Research Associate Program is a two-year term position in which the associates provide research support to Cato’s policy scholars while also participating in extensive professional development and mentoring program. Cato Research Associates will take part in educational sessions focusing on the following:
- Public policy across a wide range of domains and disciplines, including education, healthcare, criminal justice, foreign policy, and more
- Key theories and concepts of economics, markets, and trade
- Strategic considerations, such as the role of think tanks in policymaking
- Methods of research and effective policy analysis
- Public speaking
- Writing for various fora, such as blogs and newspapers
- Graphic and presentation design
- Statistical analysis
The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—a think tank—dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th- century England that presented a vision of society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution — individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.
Responsibilities:
- Assisting Center scholars with their projects and events
- Updating databases
- Conducting literature reviews
- Editing manuscripts
- Supervising the work of interns
- Light administrative duties
- Bachelor’s degree in economics, political science, sociology, public policy, or education, or equivalent work experience in those fields
- An interest in education policy
- The ability to write concise, readable prose
- An understanding of free markets
- Expertise with Microsoft Word and Excel
- Bonus skills include proficiency with STATA and a Master’s degree in a public policy related field
