Graduate Research and Public Policy Intern

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Job Description - Graduate Research and Public Policy Intern (2600074V)

Job Description

Graduate Research and Public Policy Intern - ( 2600074V )

Description

Graduate Research and Public Policy Intern

Focus:
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), Community Needs Assessment, and Data Analysis

Position Type: Part-Time, Contract
Compensation: Up to $32.00 per hour, commensurate with qualifications and experience
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with telework eligibility subject to agency policy and Executive Director approval
Schedule: Flexible, based on academic commitments and agency needs
Eligibility: Current master's and doctoral students

About the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) is an independent, federally funded state agency dedicated to empowering individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to lead full, productive, and self‑directed lives. The Council promotes self‑determination, community inclusion, equal opportunity, and systems change through advocacy, public policy, research, and community engagement.

Position Overview The MDDC is seeking a highly motivated graduate student or PhD candidate with demonstrated experience in research, data analysis, and survey development to support the Council's community needs assessment, disability policy research, and strategic planning initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research, designing surveys, analyzing data, and communicating findings to inform policy and programmatic decisions. Academic or applied research experience involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is strongly preferred.

A central responsibility of this position will be helping the Council design and implement accessible community surveys and needs assessments to better understand the lived experiences, unmet needs, challenges, strengths, and contributions of individuals with I/DD and their families throughout Massachusetts.

Research activities will focus on identifying barriers to services and supports, gaps in existing systems, opportunities for greater community inclusion, and emerging issues affecting the quality of life of individuals with I/DD.

The selected candidate will work collaboratively with Council staff, Council Members, and community stakeholders to translate research findings into meaningful recommendations that inform the Council's State Plan, public policy priorities, advocacy efforts, and systems‑change initiatives.

This opportunity is particularly well suited for graduate students interested in applied disability research, community‑engaged research, public policy analysis, and the use of data to advance equity, accessibility, and inclusion.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Research, Survey Design, and Community Needs Assessment

• Assist in the design, implementation, and evaluation of accessible community surveys, needs assessments, and other research activities involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), families, caregivers, advocates, and stakeholders.
• Develop accessible, plain‑language research materials and survey instruments that accommodate diverse communication, cognitive, linguistic, and accessibility needs.
• Apply quantitative, qualitative, and mixed‑methods research approaches to assess community needs, service gaps, barriers to access, quality of life, and opportunities for greater independence and community inclusion.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and interpret research data to identify trends, disparities, emerging needs, and priorities across areas such as employment,…