Research Assistant, Economic Policy Studies

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks a full-time, in-person research assistant to work with Economic Policy fellows on a wide variety of issues related to tax policy, public finance, and international macroeconomics. The new research assistant will begin in summer 2025.

Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter demonstrating their interest in AEI’s mission, academic transcript, and an economics research paper as their writing sample.

• Core Responsibilities:
  • Conduct research for and write papers, studies, and reports on tax policy.
  • Perform library, online, bibliographic, and investigative research in specific areas under the guidance of more experienced researchers.
  • Support scholars’ research by manipulating, retrieving, analyzing, entering, and extracting data.
  • Edit and contribute to scholarly papers, articles for a general audience, op-eds, and books.
  • Create and format charts, graphic displays, and tables.
• Additional Responsibilities:
  • Conduct literature searches of various national and international publications.
  • Summarize select articles and reports.
  • Coordinate public events and private meetings.
  • Post content on AEI’s website.

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 vision abilities due to computer work.
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds at times.
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phone, 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, preferably in economics or mathematics, is required by the start date.
• Candidates should have 0–2 years of previous applicable full-time work experience; previous internship experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, R, and Stata is required.
• Experience using Python is preferred.
• A demonstrated interest in economics and public policy is required.
• A strong math or statistics background is required, and coursework in linear algebra, multivariable calculus, and econometrics is strongly preferred.

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.