Research Assistant, Retirement Security Project, Economic Studies

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.

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.

The Retirement Security Project produces rigorous evidence and analysis to help all Americans achieve a financially secure retirement. We aim to provide decision makers 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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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…