Research Assistant, Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility

The American Enterprise Institute’s Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility (COSM) seeks a full-time research assistant to work in person with scholars including Kevin Corinth, Angela Rachidi, and Scott Winship. The new research assistant will begin in summer 2025.

Launched at the beginning of 2023, COSM seeks to shrink opportunity gaps facing disadvantaged Americans and strengthen social mobility by publishing rigorous research and developing innovative policy solutions.

The research assistant will conduct extensive research on US safety-net programs, food insecurity, social capital, and intergenerational mobility, among other topics.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover letter noting their interest in or experience with policies promoting social mobility, unofficial academic transcripts, and a 500-word writing sample.

• Support research by retrieving, analyzing, and manipulating data.
• Edit and contribute to scholarly papers, articles for a general audience, op-eds, and books.
• Create and format charts, graphic displays, and tables.
• Conduct literature reviews on US safety-net programs, poverty trends, family structures, and social capital, among other topics.
• Coordinate and work with the rest of COSM’s research team to support the center’s broader mission and projects.
• Assist COSM scholars in planning and executing public events and conferences.
• Work internally with other AEI teams on outreach for scholars’ work.
• Regularly track relevant legislative debates on US safety-net programs and other topics.
• Regularly track coverage by key media outlets that overlaps with ongoing projects.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions at AEI

• The employee is regularly expected to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close-up vision for computer work.
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phones, printers, and light traffic) is expected.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

• A bachelor’s degree (required), preferably in political science, economics, statistics, public policy, or a related field
• Related internship experience (preferred)
• Quantitative skills, including proficiency in Excel and Stata or R (required)
• A demonstrated interest in public policy and familiarity with US safety-net programs (required)
• Comfort working both independently and on a team
• Strong initiative

Benefits

AEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and 3 personal/floating holidays); 12 days of paid sick leave; paid family leave; medical and dental coverage, in addition to a health savings account; medical and dependent care FSA; a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200; life and disability insurance at no cost to employees; and a 403b retirement plan with a 12% contribution from AEI, among other benefits. For more information, you can see a full summary of our benefits here.

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: scope and responsibilities of the position; a candidate's full-time, applicable work experience; key skills and qualifications; as well as internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $50,000 - $54,000. Salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.