Research Assistant (Work, Education & Labor Division)
The Urban Institute is a research-to-impact institution focused on improving lives and strengthening communities. The Work, Education and Labor Division is seeking a junior quantitative and/or qualitative researcher to support various education and workforce projects, emphasizing data management and analysis. Responsibilities Write computer programs that clean, merge, and efficiently store education datasets Standardize variable definitions to create panel datasets Write computer programs that analyze datasets for a variety of research projects, ranging from blogs to major reports Conduct background research (including literature reviews) and contribute to original data collection efforts (e.g., collecting information on states’ education policies) Support qualitative site visits and observations Skills Possess a bachelor's degree in economics, public policy, mathematics, statistics, or related disciplines, and possess 0-2 years of experience Exhibit analytical skills with demonstrated interest in education policy, superior attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and strong skills in mathematics, statistics as well as oral and written communication Be a self-motivated individual with the ability to prioritize workload and to work both independently and as part of a team Demonstrate prior research experience—including experience working with federal survey data, other large data sets, or detailed state-level policy data Display course/college experience using statistical packages such as Stata (preferred) or R to analyze datasets and research methods or econometrics Have the ability to download, clean, and do basic analysis of large datasets Have experience with qualitative data collection and analysis of survey and site visit findings Be able to coordinate logistics with external partners with professionalism Possess subject/content specific knowledge of education and/or workforce systems to build from; this could be in K12, higher ed, apprenticeships or other types of career pathways work Display course/college experience using statistical packages such as Stata (preferred) or R to analyze datasets and research methods or econometrics Benefits Generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays Medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance Transit benefits 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting Access to a health advocate Personal finance coaching Employee Assistance Program Educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs Company Overview Urban Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. It was founded in 1968, and is headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia, USA, with a workforce of 501-1000 employees. Its website is Company H1B Sponsorship Urban Institute has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 3 in 2026, 8 in 2025, 7 in 2024, 4 in 2023, 13 in 2022, 3 in 2021, 6 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.