Research Assistant, Economic Studies

The Brookings Institution

Equal-Opportunity

Employer:

It is Brookings policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all of its employees and applicants without regard to their actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, citizenship status, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination as required by law.

US-DC-Washington

Type: Regular, Temporary Appointment
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research
Resident Employee (Hybrid)

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks! The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.

About the Economic Studies Program:
The Economic Studies program analyzes current and emerging economic issues facing the United States and the world and, based on that research, provides innovative, practical policy recommendations. ES's work covers a broad array of economic issues, including economic growth, economic opportunity and mobility, the labor market, regulation, health policy, the environment, tax policy, retirement policy, and fiscal and monetary policy.

Economic Studies scholars influence key economic policies by conducting rigorous and relevant research and then disseminating and communicating their findings to the policy community and to the broader public.

This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of two days of remote work each week.

Please note:

This position is included in the staff bargaining unit, Brookings United, affiliated with the IFPTE Local 70 union, and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Ready to contribute to Brookings success? The Research Assistant undertakes research and policy analysis on a range of economic issues for the Vice President and Director of Economic Studies, with a particular focus on macroeconomics, public finance, and economic statecraft topics. Duties for this position include: general research assistance; drafting materials and working papers, blogs and other publications; fact‑checking, literature searches, and other research‑adjacent activity;

and assisting the fellow and other staff with the management of projects.

Preferred start date is January or February 2026. The starting annual salary is $58,000.

More information about being a research assistant in Economic Studies may be found here.

• Works jointly with senior scholars, prepares and revises programming code, simulation macros, database files and regression estimates.
• Analyze data, using statistical packages and spreadsheets.
• Prepares tables and graphs output from model simulations.
• Updates and checks existing databanks; assembles, consolidates, and checks data from new sources.

• In collaboration with senior research staff, drafts material summarizing research results on specific topics as assigned, for incorporation into working papers and project publications.
• Provides analytical reviews and summaries of existing…