Bachelor’s Level Research Assistant - Qualitative (Term)

Job Type:

Bachelor’s Level Research Assistant - Qualitative (Term)

Limited duration position; not to exceed 3 years; start date summer 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will close January 9, 2026

RAND is seeking highly motivated Research Assistants to work in a variety of research areas including human resource and workforce management in the military, national and homeland security issues, cyber security, and infrastructure. Research Assistants work as members of multi-disciplinary research teams addressing complex policy problems. Research Assistants work with teams of experienced researchers, including political scientists, psychologists, social scientists, engineers, physical scientists, and economists.

Duties

Tasks would include qualitative and quantitative data collection, preparation and analysis of data, conducting literature reviews, site visits, survey instrument design, note-taking, preparation of draft documents and presentations, and coordination of work among project team members. Research Assistants may travel with project teams and may have the opportunity to contribute to reports and articles.

Basic Qualifications

Applicants should have excellent research and analysis skills demonstrated in coursework or work experience, solid qualitative research skills, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, strong writing skills, and the ability to work effectively as a member of multi-disciplinary teams. Must have proficiency to undertake research assignments with little supervision. Applicants should have the competence to take initiative and have the ability to quickly gather, ingest and consolidate large amounts of information and data. Successful candidates will be thoughtful, thorough, disciplined researchers able to work simultaneously on multiple projects and meet deadlines. They must be highly motivated, organized, flexible, and demonstrate a strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity. Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

This position is for Bachelor’s level applicants only. Master’s level applicants should look for Analyst positions on the RAND career site. A Bachelor's degree in sociology, psychology, public policy, or similar field required.

Experience

0-1 years of related research experience.

Security Clearance

Candidates with interest in working on the national security issues must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Location

Santa Monica, CA; Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, PA; Boston, MA

Salary Range: $50,600-$69,500

RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate’s work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity. This position is overtime eligible. Successful candidates will be offered employment in a specific title, as determined by the candidate's education and experience. In addition, RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off and more.