RAND Summer Associate Program - POLICY Research

RAND • Washington, DC

25d • Hybrid

About The Position

RAND’s Summer Associate Program introduces outstanding graduate students across the social, behavioral, policy, and technical sciences to RAND, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization conducting research on domestic and international social policy issues and national security problems. Summer Associates typically work for 12 weeks (60 work days) during the summer and receive bi-weekly pay for hours worked. Associates conduct research that can be completed during the assignment and present results to the RAND community in a 15–30-minute briefing at the end of the assignment. They receive close mentorship from one to two established RAND researchers, are encouraged to network with researchers beyond their primary team and expertise, and are invited to attend seminars led by RAND and external researchers.

The summer 2027 program will use a hybrid model: Associates may work in person at one of RAND’s four offices with remote flexibility, or fully remotely from where they live. In-person positions are typically available in Santa Monica, California; Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Boston, Massachusetts. Office placement depends on the availability of in-person mentorship. Associates must reside in the United States, excluding U.S. territories, throughout the assignment. International students planning to live in the U.S. for summer 2027 may apply.

The program is designed for full-time doctoral students who have completed at least two years of graduate work and are within two years of completing their doctorate. Master’s students may apply in Engineering, Computer or Information Science, and Operations Research if they graduate on or after December 2027. A keen interest in applied, policy-oriented research is necessary. For many national security or defense projects, applicants must be eligible to receive, or already hold, a U.S. government security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required only for certain project work, such as work requiring a clearance or where the project contract requires it; proof of legal right to work in the United States is required upon hire.

The hourly salary is $32.00. Positions receive bi-weekly compensation for hours worked and are overtime eligible.

Requirements

• Full-time doctoral student who has completed at least two years of graduate work and is within two years of completing the doctorate; or a Master’s student in Engineering, Computer or Information Science, or Operations Research who will graduate on or after December 2027.
• Keen interest in applied, policy-oriented research questions.
• Excellent analytic skills.
• Proven ability in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong commitment to RAND’s core values of quality and objectivity.
• Proof of legal right to work in the United States upon hire.
• Residency in the United States, excluding U.S. territories, throughout the summer assignment.
• For many national security or defense projects, eligibility to receive or current possession of a U.S. government security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship when required for specific project work, such as work requiring a security clearance or a project contract that requires citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Training in Political Science/History, Engineering, Computer Science/Data Science, International Relations/Security Studies, Biology/Life Sciences/Bioengineering, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Operations Research, or Economics.
• Experience or interest in one or more listed research areas, including military strategy and doctrine; geopolitics and area studies; AI and international order; aerospace and space systems; defense systems and acquisition; autonomous systems; biosecurity; modeling, simulation, wargaming, optimization, forecasting, economics, health policy, or education policy.
• Methodological expertise in quantitative or mixed methods, modeling and simulation, machine learning/AI, causal inference and program evaluation, data science, large-scale data analysis, social network analysis, multilevel modeling, Bayesian analysis, or qualitative research.
• Familiarity with Python, R, STATA, SAS, Matlab, Mathematica, ATLAS.ti, NVivo, or machine learning/AI frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research that can be completed during the summer assignment.
• Present research results to the RAND community in a 15–30-minute briefing at the end of the assignment.
• Work with one to two RAND researchers serving as mentors.
• Network and interact with researchers outside the primary mentorship team and area of expertise.
• Attend seminars featuring researchers from RAND and outside the organization.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern