Research Associate - RISE

Advertising Summary: The Research Institute on Social Equity (RISE), in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is searching for a Research Associate with a strong background and interest in public policy and equity to work closely with the Director, Senior Research Associates, research team, and clients. The Research Associate will work on equity-based research in public policy, addressing organizational, structural, and institutional issues adversely impacting marginalized communities.

The Research Associate will provide leadership and support for multiple studies that are part of the Institute's strategy to increase public service and policy equity. The Research Associate will monitor legislation, public policy decisions and trends, and other issues related to the institute's mission at the local, state, and federal levels related to various ongoing and prospective research projects with implications to policy fields, including housing, emergency management, health, public administration, urban planning.

The Research Associate is expected to keep current on equity trends and appropriate theories of change, methods reaching marginalized communities, publications, and initiatives.

Unit: L D Wilder Sch of Govt & Pub Affrs

Department: Research Institute for Social Equity

Department Summary: Established in 2019, the mission of the Research Institute for Social Equity is to advance social equity through multidisciplinary scholarship, research, training, and engagement.

The Wilder School's mission is to:

• Engage, teach and inspire students and leaders to understand and solve challenges in our world.

• Advance research that informs public policy and decision making to improve our communities.

• Collaborate with communities through innovative partnerships to enhance quality of life.

The Wilder School's vision is to be the premier resource for public policy expertise in public safety, governance, and economic and community development. The 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs  and tied for No.1 in Virginia. The School is also ranked No. 6 in Homeland Security Programs, and No.

33 in Public Management and Leadership. The Wilder School has over 1,400 students and more than 12,000 alumni, with an established environment where multiple perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society unites these perspectives together. Our academic excellence attracts the highest quality faculty, staff, and students, and our graduates are leaders in their professions.

Our location in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined with our proximity to Washington, DC, provides numerous opportunities for engaged scholarship, teaching and community engagement activities. A creative, interdisciplinary School with both academic programs and training/research centers in the social sciences and professional arenas, we reflect the communities we serve providing students and faculty with the knowledge, skills, opportunities and experience necessary for success.

For additional information about the Wilder School, please visit our website .edu.

Position Overview:

The Research Associate will work on equity-based research in public policy, addressing organizational, structural, and institutional issues adversely impacting marginalized communities. The Research Associate will provide leadership and support for multiple studies that are part of the Institute's strategy to increase public service and policy equity. The Research Associate will monitor legislation, public policy decisions and trends, and other issues related to the institute's mission at the local, state, and federal levels related to various ongoing and prospective research projects with implications to policy fields, including housing, emergency management, health, public administration, urban planning.

The Research Associate is expected to keep current on equity trends and appropriate theories of change, methods reaching marginalized communities, publications, and initiatives.

Typical Duties

1. Research, Data Management, Collection, and Analytics, Report and Grant Writing:

• Work with the project team to support research needs and development.
• Conduct literature reviews and prepare appropriate analysis.
• Conduct equity-based data analysis.
• Write monthly equity reports.
• Research Associate will also collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate research findings.
• Engage with marginalized communities to conduct observations and community events.
• Conduct secondary data collection using national databases (e.g., census data).
• Develop research instruments, including surveys.
• Conduct quantitative data collection and management as well as qualitative data collection and management (e.g., focus groups, interviews).
• Develop codebooks, protocols, and supervision of data management, collection, and analysis.
• Co-write research grants to obtain…