What are the responsibilities and job description for the CRL Research Intern position at CRL External?
WHO We Are:
The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) is a non-partisan, nonprofit research and policy advocacy organization that promotes financial fairness and economic opportunity for all, including families of color, rural residents, women, military personnel, low-income borrowers, low-wealth individuals, and early-career workers.
CRL provides a strong voice on both the state and national levels for these families to expand family wealth and financial stability through sustainable homeownership, affordable higher education, and support for small businesses, and protect their financial stability by preventing abusive products that trap families in debt and strip away their income, by ending payday lending and other predatory high-cost lending, exorbitant bank fees, and abusive debt collection practices. CRL’s staff, allies, and funders reflect a collective commitment to eliminating systemic injustice in America’s financial services.
CRL is an affiliate of Self-Help, a community development lender founded in 1980 that has provided more than $9 billion dollars in financing to help over 185,000 low-wealth borrowers buy homes, build businesses, and strengthen community resources.
CRL's internship program is designed to give students valuable experience in a professional setting while broadening their knowledge of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). We hope to educate and create a passion for the field of community development in the next generation of leaders.
We are seeking an Intern to join our Durham Research Team!
The Research Intern plays a critical role in the advancement of CRL’s mission by delivering trusted, groundbreaking primary research to highlight issues, identify workable solutions, and shape policy discussions. Participating in major quantitative and/or qualitative research projects from inception to publication, team members conduct research, policy, and market analysis related to predatory lending and other abusive financial practices. Working with members of the Policy teams and communicating with the public, regulators, and other policymakers about CRL’s research, this is an exciting opportunity to affect policy through research and drive meaningful impact at state and federal levels. The ideal candidate for this role may be hired with a focus in either quantitative or qualitative research. The individual in this role will have the opportunity to grow as a researcher, using novel and proprietary data sets to pioneer innovative research around the racial wealth gap. This full-time, 40-hour-per-week hybrid summer internship runs from May 19th to August 1st and offers a professional development experience designed to enhance your skills and knowledge.
WHAT You’ll Do:
Research
- Support researchers and senior researchers to:
- Design, manage, and execute large multi-phase research projects on housing and consumer finance issues relevant to CRL’s mission both independently and as part of a team.
- Collect, clean, and code data from existing primary and secondary sources, including large datasets (cloud-based and locally-stored), and design collection protocols for new primary data.
- Perform and interpret quantitative statistical and/or qualitative analyses on mortgage and consumer finance data sets, including writing code or developing and analyzing themes.
- Report on findings to a variety of audiences internally and externally.
- Maintain familiarity with outside research, academic and otherwise, including conducting formal critiques where necessary to advance CRL’s policy goals.
- Provide research support for internal staff, including conducting and reviewing ad-hoc analyses.
Collaboration with Policy & Advocacy Teams
- Collaborate with colleagues across teams, including informing and revising policy briefs, to support CRL’s policy goals through research.
- Work closely with CRL’s policy, communications, and outreach staff to ensure CRL research is relevant to policymakers and the general public.
WHAT You’ll Need:
- Undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree in data science, economics, statistics, urban planning, public policy, or a related field; recent graduates welcome to apply
- Research or policy-related experience, ideally on or related to consumer finance issues and the racial wealth gap
- Strong understanding of how to support policy campaigns through research, including an ability to translate policy aims into a methodological design, communicate findings to non-technical audiences, and connect research to real-world impact
- Demonstrate a sincere interest in non-profit work, education, advocacy, or social work
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills
- Proficient written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills
- An enthusiasm for learning
- Strong attention to detail
Center for Responsible Lending is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression (including transgender status), age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, class or family status.