Research Fellowship

Documented•Washington, DC

1d•$55,000 - $65,000•Remote

About The Position

Documented is seeking early-career research fellows to support our investigations into threats to our democracy. You would be joining a team of experienced researchers who are committed to exposing the ways in which organized special interests are undermining our elections, attacking fundamental rights, eroding protections for marginalized communities, and weakening a free and fair judiciary. About Documented: Documented is a nonpartisan investigative watchdog and journalism project that conducts original investigative research to expose how organized special interests are undermining our democracy. Founded in 2017, Documented has carried out groundbreaking, award-winning investigations into the funding, strategies, and networks of powerful actors working to weaken the pillars of our political system. Our investigations have revealed the secret internal training videos of Project 2025 and played a central role in exposing how far-right political operatives are working to reshape the judiciary and legal system in order to advance an extreme political agenda through the courts. Documented’s work has appeared in co-bylined and co-branded investigations with outlets including ProPublica, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone. Our research has also been featured in front-page stories in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker, and highlighted in broadcast reporting from CBS Mornings, NPR, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. For more on our work, see our About Us page. Research Fellows will take on a variety of roles to support the Documented research team as we expand our democracy work. The exact job responsibilities are fluid day to day, and require creative thinking and both collaborative and independent work. Over the course of 18 months, this fellowship offers an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop new research skills while gaining insight into a wide range of issues. Ideal candidates will demonstrate flexibility and curiosity, with a willingness to learn and apply new research methods. You might be a great candidate if you have the following demonstrable knowledge, skills, and/or experience. We will consider paid and unpaid work experience:

Requirements

Strong interest in U.S. politics, particularly the groups, donors, and individuals working to undermine our democracy.
Some experience in methods of investigative research, such as LexisNexis, state and federal campaign finance databases, and ethics and lobbying disclosures.
Experience contributing to an investigative research project and/or publication, including (but not limited to) journalism, campaign strategy, and academic or legal research.
Experience working with large datasets or organizing and analyzing documents.
Ability to work collaboratively with allies and teammates and flexibly respond to changing priorities, as well as the self-motivation to work independently when needed.
Ability to stay organized and on top of multiple projects, databases, and large collections of interrelated documents.
Ability to work collaboratively with teammates and flexibly respond to changing priorities, as well as self-motivation to work independently.
Ability to translate research findings into clear, compelling narratives, writing clearly and persuasively across a variety of formats, including memos and news articles.
Willingness to dive in, make mistakes, learn quickly, and have some fun.