Research Associate, Elections and Government Program

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. Among our core priorities, we fight to protect voting rights, end mass incarceration, strengthen checks and balances, and preserve constitutional protections in national security policies. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting-edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in Congress and the states, the courts, and in the court of public opinion.    

Position Overview:  
The Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program works to improve the administration of our elections so that they are free, fair, and accessible for all voters; reform campaign finance to combat corruption and amplify the voices of everyday people in politics; combat election disinformation and political violence that often disproportionately harm voters, election workers, and candidates of color and other political minorities; and put forward solutions to ensure that government institutions have the capacity to meet contemporary challenges, among other goals. This work aims to bring the ideal of representative self-government closer to reality by eliminating barriers to full and equal political participation, countering racial and other discrimination in our electoral and political systems, and striving to ensure that public policy and institutions are effective and reflect the diverse voices and interests that make for a rich democracy.  

The Brennan Center seeks a full-time Research Associate to join our Elections and Government Program. The Research Associate supports the work of the Elections and Government Program, providing research and administrative support for research publications, federal and state advocacy, litigation, and other projects. The Research Associate also conducts background research and literature reviews, collects and cleans data from a variety of sources, conducts empirical research and data analysis, and drafts and edits publications, reports, academic journal articles, and other public communications as needed. They provide administrative support for Brennan Center research and program efforts as needed, taking on special research-related projects and other duties as assigned. 

Note: This position is based at our headquarters in New York City. It may require occasional travel. 

Responsibilities:  
Research Support Duties 

• Conduct empirical research and quantitative data analysis. 
• Collect and clean raw data from a wide variety of sources. 
• Manage public records requests and other data pipelines. 
• Collaborate with internal and external experts to design and conduct research projects. 
• Draft and edit publications, reports, academic journal articles, and other public communications as needed. 
• Take on special research-related projects and other duties as assigned. 
• Conduct background research and develop literature reviews for projects as needed. 

Administrative Support Duties 

• Provide administrative support for research, publications, convenings, and other projects. 
• Support smooth and timely execution of deliverables by planning, tracking, prioritizing, and providing progress reports on tasks and projects. 
• Organize internal and external meetings, including calendaring, distributing reference materials, timekeeping, note-taking, and following up with next steps. 
• Manage scheduling, expense reports, travel arrangements, team events and logistics, and provide other logistical support for day-to-day research department and program operations, with accuracy and timeliness. 
• Help to coordinate inter-department initiatives. 
• Take on other administrative support duties as assigned. 

Experience and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required. Candidates with a master’s degree will be given full consideration.
• 1-2 years of applied data and research experience (undergraduate or postgraduate) is strongly preferred. 
• Working knowledge of a command-line statistical analysis program (preferably R or Stata) and familiarity with dataset management is required. Depending on the needs of a particular program, familiarity with specific research techniques and methods (survey methods, text as data research, qualitative or mixed methods research) or tools (such as ArcMap, QGIS or Python) may be preferred. 
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in all work that could be used or published, with proven ability to plan for and demonstrate peer review and other techniques for bulletproofing findings. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including proven ability to work effectively within a team environment, and to work collaboratively with editors, other staff, and outside peer reviewers. 
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Contributes to an internal culture that is accessible and rooted in dignity and respect, consistent with the Brennan Center’s core values. 
• Drive and ability to take initiative, anticipate needs and solve problems, and complete tasks and projects with a high degree of focus and independence. 
• Strong ability to manage time and successfully multi-task in a deadline-driven environment. 
• A high degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and judgment. 
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Brennan Center. 

The Brennan Center is committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. We continuously work with our staff to find new ways to increase diversity and to build and cultivate an inclusive and equitable work environment, where everyone can be their true self and feel a strong sense of belonging. As such, we seek to hire employees who have a commitment to and/or experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, we expect employees to participate/contribute with DEI initiatives or activities with recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.  

Position Start Date: June 2025  
 
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to apply early, as the position will be filled once a qualified candidate is identified.   

Application Instructions  
To apply, visit >>LINK HERE<<. Please upload the following documents: (1) cover letter, (2) resume, (3) writing sample (no more than 10 pages), (4) coding sample (no more than 1 page) and (5) contact information for three references. Applications without all of the previously listed materials will not be considered. If applicable, include internet hyperlinks to authored writing samples.      

Please, no phone calls or faxes; it is strongly preferred that you apply on our website. If you have difficulty with the online system, you may send your application by e-mail to: brennancenterjobs@nyu.edu with “Research Associate, Elections and Government Program” in the subject line, after registering in the online system.  

Compensation and Benefits:  
This is a scaled position. The salary range assigned for the scale is $65,000 - $70,000 and has been determined based on market competitiveness. Each salary in the scale is determined by the number of years of professional experience after the selected candidate graduated from undergraduate school. Additionally, we offer a very robust and competitive array of benefits such as a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.   

In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW local 2320.   

Note: The Brennan Center is committed to public health and to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and visitors. As such, we have adopted a policy requiring all employees working in the New York and Washington, DC offices to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or to meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.  

The Brennan Center for Justice is committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. To this end, Brennan Center

• Welcomes applicants with disabilities and applicants of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, socioeconomic identities, sexual orientations, and national origin or citizenship, including people who have been previously incarcerated;
• Hires diverse candidates and works to improve our recruitment practices to allow for such
• Creates a workplace where true diversity is fostered and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged;
• Ensures that all members of the Brennan Center community feel welcome and respected, and have equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the institution; and
• Is committed to supporting low-income communities and communities of color particularly affected by social inequities.

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