Research Assistant

Each year, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Board) hires a new cohort of Research Assistants (RAs) who gain real-world experience by working alongside PhD economists to assist with original economic research and provide critical support for policy analysis.

The RA position is a two-year program and most RAs leave the role well-suited to pursue a graduate degree, often in economics, or a number of different careers at the Board or with other organizations. While at the Board, RAs often become involved in a variety of other projects, including collaboration with various government agencies and Federal Reserve System Banks, and participate in efforts to provide economic and financial literacy instruction to local high school students. RAs are encouraged to attend academic research seminars and presentations given by Board economists and visiting scholars.

The Board is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce. We recognize the benefit derived from different perspectives and experiences, and we look carefully at candidates’ records to identify individuals whose perspectives could benefit our work. As such, we especially encourage submissions from groups traditionally less represented in economics.

Duties/Responsibilities

RAs at the entry level use standard statistical techniques and a general knowledge of microeconomic or macroeconomic theory to assist economists in their current reporting, research, modeling, forecasting, database maintenance, and regulatory casework.

• Carries out assignments in support of current analysis, research, forecasting, modeling efforts, or regulatory casework, or activities associated with the Federal Reserve's statistical program by using and/or modifying standard statistical and graphics software packages and by developing ad hoc computer programs of moderate complexity.
• Assumes responsibility for the preparation of and verification of data in the section's charts, tables, and other material used in memoranda and briefings to the Board, in the implementation of policy through open market operations, in data books or testimony for Board members, in casework, or in publications such as the Federal Reserve Bulletin.
• Assists economists in monitoring well-defined subject areas or project developments; drafts routine reporting memoranda and analytical memoranda of limited complexity.
• Performs literature searches and summaries.
• Handles routine requests for data or other information from the public, Federal Reserve Banks, or government agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, statistics, math, finance, data science, computer science, public policy, or a related field with demonstrated economics coursework.
• Knowledge of economic principles, quantitative techniques, and data analysis.
• Statistical software package or programming language experience such as Stata, R, Python, MatLab, Linux/Unix, VBA, and others.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills, initiative, integrity, and experience working both independently and collaboratively.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required for Research Assistant positions.