Research Associate – Center Educational Freedom

Research Associate – Center for Educational Freedom

The Cato Institute seeks qualified candidates for a full‑time Research Associate position working in the Center for Educational Freedom. The research associate will provide direct research, analytical, and writing support on education issues, including elementary and secondary school choice, higher education policy (student loans to accreditation), early childhood education, and federal education policy.

This position will help produce original policy analysis in multiple formats, including working papers, blog posts, op‑eds, policy analyses, and books. The research associate will be an integral part of the Center for Educational Freedom workflow, assisting with new research, editing content, managing events, and undertaking administrative tasks. The successful candidate will be an entrepreneurial self‑starter, on the lookout for good research ideas and hooks to promote Cato’s work, and will have the opportunity to co‑author pieces.

This role is available through our two‑year Research Associate program, which offers the opportunity to learn from senior Cato staff and guest lecturers across academia and the policy community. Participants can attend educational sessions, network with peers and scholars, and gain mentorship from leading public‑policy scholars, helping them excel as leaders in policy, academia, government, business, and beyond.

This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC. The starting salary for the Research Associate position is $52,000.

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 a society free from excessive government power.

Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. The simple, timeless principles of that revolution animate Cato’s research to this day.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Support the research of the Center for Educational Freedom team.
• Conduct general research and data analysis.
• Help draft op‑eds, reports, and other research products using original findings and peer‑reviewed academic research.
• Edit, fact‑check, and/or review various research products.
• Occasionally co‑author policy analyses, working papers, peer‑reviewed academic papers, blog posts, and other empirical work.
• Occasionally support the administrative and organizational needs of the team.

• Degree in political science, economics, public policy, history, or sociology required.
• Proficiency with Excel required; experience with Stata or R desirable.
• Evidence of good writing skills, with published blog posts, op‑eds, or policy analyses preferred.
• No prior work experience required.
• An understanding of and commitment to Cato’s libertarian values.

• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work on multiple tasks independently and as part of a collaborative team on a time‑sensitive basis.
• Strong writing and editing skills and a strong commitment to accuracy.
• Experience and comfort in analyzing data.
• Ability and willingness to challenge and question ideas.
• Familiarity with basic free‑market and other libertarian principles and concepts.

Please submit the following materials:

• CV/Resume
• Cover letter
• A writing sample

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Employer‑provided life and disability insurance
• 401(k) employer match
• Transit/Parking benefits
• Pet discount plan

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.