Policy Research Specialist

About the Baker Institute

Founded in 1993, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy is one of the premier nonpartisan public policy research organizations in the country. As an integral part of Rice University, the Baker Institute has a strong track record of achievement based on the work of its fellows, scholars, and staff. The institute collaborates with experts from academia, government, media, business, and nongovernmental and private organizations.

Founded in 1993, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy is one of the premier nonpartisan public policy research organizations in the country. As an integral part of Rice University, the Baker Institute has a strong track record of achievement based on the work of its fellows, scholars, and staff. The institute collaborates with experts from academia, government, media, business, and nongovernmental and private organizations.

The Claudio X. González Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy seeks a Policy Research Specialist to support rigorous, policy-relevant research on U.S.

-Mexico issues. Reporting to the Center’s leadership and working closely with fellows, scholars, and research staff, the Policy Research Specialist will help design, execute, and communicate empirical research projects related to trade, migration, public security and the rule of law, economic development, governance, and related binational policy issues. In short, the successful candidate will be able to turn empirical research into clear, compelling policy insights.

The ideal candidate will have strong applied analytical experience and will be able to move confidently from raw data collection to clear and insightful data presentation. The successful candidate will not only crunch numbers but also translate complex empirical findings into accurate, accessible products for policy, academic, institutional, and public audiences.

This position is exclusively on-site, requiring all duties to be performed in person on campus. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

$60,000 - $65,000.
* Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

• Bachelor’s degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• Two years of professional research experience in policy research, quantitative analysis, or applied social science research
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

• Demonstrated proficiency in at least one statistical or programming environment such as R, Python, Stata, or similar tools
• Experience managing, cleaning, and analyzing structured datasets
• Ability to accurately interpret quantitative findings and communicate them clearly in writing
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced policy research environment

• Master’s degree in a relevant field
• Experience working with cross-national, economic, demographic, trade, governance, crime, or public opinion datasets
• Experience supporting publication-quality policy reports or academic research
• Knowledge of U.S.
  
  -Mexico relations, Mexican public policy, or Latin American political economy
• Spanish-language reading proficiency, with professional working proficiency preferred
• Familiarity with reproducible research practices, version control, and documentation standards

• Support the…