Research Assistant, Housing and Communities

Role Summary • A research assistant in the Housing and Communities Division of the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan Washington think tank known for data-driven research on economic and social policy. A research assistant works with the senior researchers: managing and cleaning data, writing the code for statistical analysis, and helping write reports on housing finance, homelessness, climate and communities. Responsibilities • Collect, clean, and analyze large policy, administrative, and survey datasets. • Write, document, and review code in R, Stata, SAS, or Python, utilizing AI tools appropriately. • Produce summary tables, charts, maps, and initial data interpretations for research teams. • Contribute to literature reviews, publications, project logistics, and administrative tasks. Required Knowledge & Experience • Degree: Bachelor's (or an associate's with equivalent experience) required, preferably in public policy, urban studies, economics, statistics, data science or a related field. • Skills: Quantitative data analysis, dataset management, and coding in R, Stata, SAS, or Python. • Languages: Bilingual abilities, although not required, are a plus. Work & Eligibility • Able to work in the office two or more days a week strongly preferred. • Willingness and ability to travel as needed. Application Process • Submit a resume and cover letter. Process includes a phone screen and panel interviews.