Senior Research Assistant

Title: Senior Research Assistant (Domestic Team)

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) has an immediate opening for a Research Assistant. This is a full-time, remote or Washington, DC-based position.

Job Description: The Senior Research Assistant supports the CEPR’s domestic team in analyzing economic and labor market trends, including by working with large individual-level datasets using statistical programming tools. Other responsibilities include collecting and analyzing data from print and electronic sources, and preparing charts, tables, literature reviews, and summaries of background material for research projects. Research Assistants may also help design and execute research projects by describing data sources, datasets, and research results, and preparing accurate and organized drafts of technical reports. The focus of the work is labor market issues, including domestic social policy.

Qualifications: 

• Successful candidates will possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, sociology, statistics, or a related field, and an interest in economic justice.
•  Experience writing programs using statistical software such as Stata or R is essential. 
• Candidates should have a strong knowledge of statistics and basic econometric techniques 
• Experience as a research assistant or performing similar work
• Knowledge of standard word processing and spreadsheet software 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Experience using Datawrapper or similar tools to create interactive graphics is also a plus.

Salary & Benefits:  CEPR offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package. The minimum starting salary according to CEPR’s union contract is  $67,404 annually; however, this is only a minimum and the actual salary is dependent on experience and qualifications.This position will be represented by the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local #70, AFL-CIO.

Closing Date of Position: May 22, 2026 (at 11:59PM, Eastern time). In rare, extenuating circumstances, the application period may be extended or shortened. In the event that the application period is shortened, CEPR will update this posting to notify candidates that they have 7 calendar days remaining to apply.

To Apply: Send the following, in a single PDF file, to apply[at]cepr.net with the subject line “Research Assistant”:

1. a cover letter;

2. a résumé;

3. a writing sample on a relevant policy-related topic of no more than 1,000 words; and

4. a sample of past programming (Stata or R strongly preferred; this may be in a separate file). Please note any packages you are using and thoroughly annotate your code.

Please do not submit additional information except the items listed above. You may address your cover letter to the Research Assistant Search Committee, if you wish. 

Writing and programming samples should reflect your own analytical thinking. Please refrain from using AI tools to generate them.

Search committees usually make a decision within three weeks of the application deadline. If you have any questions, please email cepr[at]cepr.net, the contact for the Research Assistant Search Committee. Absolutely no calls or faxes.

Organization Description:  CEPR was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most critical economic and social issues that affect people’s lives. For citizens to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy, they must be informed about the problems and choices that they face. An informed public should then be able to choose policies that lead to improving the quality of life for people within the United States and around the world.

Toward this end, CEPR conducts professional research and public education so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options. Professional research is oriented toward filling important gaps in understanding particular economic and social problems or the impact of specific policies, both domestically and globally. The public education portion of CEPR’s mission is to present the findings of professional research, both by CEPR and others, in a manner that allows broad segments of the public to know precisely what is at stake in major policy debates. As part of its public education initiative, CEPR utilizes research findings and analysis to challenge the myths, assumptions, policies, and institutions that perpetuate economic and social inequality.

CEPR’s founding scholars include Dean Baker, Mark Weisbrot, and Robert Pollin, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts.  Our Advisory Board includes Joseph E. Stiglitz, Professor at Columbia University and Nobel Laureate economist; Janet Gornick, Professor at the CUNY Graduate School; and Richard Freeman, Professor of Economics at Harvard University

CEPR is an equal opportunity employer that considers applicants for all positions regardless of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any legally protected status. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.