Research Associate I

Georgia State University•Atlanta, GA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (AYSPS) is at the forefront of impactful research, addressing critical public policy issues that shape decision-making in legislatures, school districts, governments, and non-profits. The school’s esteemed Public Finance Research Cluster, home to the Center for State and Local Finance (CSLF), Fiscal Research Center (FRC), and International Center for Public Policy (ICePP), is dedicated to producing innovative non-partisan policy research, addressing current domestic challenges in tax policy, economic and urban development, public budgeting, and education finance. Our projects make a tangible impact on government, nonprofit, and private-sector clients as well as contribute to scholarship. The Research I Associate provides analytical, research, and programmatic support for the Public Finance Research Cluster (PFRC) within the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, including the Center for State and Local Finance (CSLF), Fiscal Research Center (FRC), and the International Center for Public Policy (ICePP). The position supports applied policy research related to public finance, taxation, economic development, public budgeting, and education finance at the international, federal, state, and local levels. Under the supervision of the Associate Director for Domestic Programs, the Research Associate assist faculty and research staff with data collection, management, and analysis; conducts background research on fiscal and tax policy issues; and contributes to the preparation of research reports, policy briefs, presentations, and other dissemination products. The position also assists with data visualization, documentation of research methodologies, and administrative coordination related to research projects. This role requires the ability to work with quantitative datasets, interpret policy-relevant research findings, and communicate technical information clearly to both academic and policy audiences. The position exercises occasional independent judgment in performing routine research tasks and collaborates with faculty, research staff, graduate research assistants, and administrative personnel to support PFRC research initiatives. The ideal candidate for this position will be intellectually curious and have 1) experience in applied public finance research, 2) a demonstrated ability to manage and analyze data, and 3) excellent written and oral presentation skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience, or a combination of education and related experience.

Nice To Haves

Two years of related experience in policy research, economic analysis, data analysis, or applied research; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience working with quantitative datasets and statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, Python, or similar tools).
Familiarity with public finance, tax policy, economic development, or government budgeting.
Experience preparing research summaries, reports, or policy briefs.
Experience with data visualization tools and techniques.
Ability to work collaboratively in an academic or research environment.

Responsibilities

Conduct background research on federal, state, local, and international public finance topics using academic literature, policy reports, government publications, and other data sources.
Compile and summarize findings to support PFRC research projects and policy analysis.
Assist with collecting, cleaning, organizing, and analyzing economic, fiscal, and tax data using analytical tools such as Excel, R, Stata, or Python.
Support the development of datasets used for policy evaluation, fiscal forecasting, and research studies.
Assist in drafting research summaries, policy briefs, technical memoranda, and report sections that communicate complex fiscal and economic issues to academic, policy, and practitioner audiences.
Develop charts, tables, figures, PowerPoint slides, and other data visualizations to support research reports, policy briefs, presentations, and stakeholder communications.
Provide coordination and administrative support for PFRC research projects, including documentation, file management, meeting preparation, and assistance with project deliverables and research dissemination activities.