Research Assistant

About PRB:

PRB is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit research organization focused on improving people’s health and well-being through evidence-based policies and practices. Our staff analyze population data and information and ensure the research, and its applications are understood and used widely by decisionmakers, advocates, and media. 

Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is seeking a Research Assistant to serve as a member of PRB’s Programs staff. The candidate will assist with compiling, analyzing, and reporting statistics on U.S. and global demographic, social, economic, and health issues. The candidate will also provide technical, administrative, and logistic support to programs and activities.

For the Research Assistant (I) role, the successful candidate will have had hands-on experience working with survey or administrative data, ideally on demographic topics related to children and families, population aging, health, the workforce, fertility, mortality, and/or migration. This position requires strong quantitative and organizational skills, attention to detail, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to balance working independently and on a team.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assists senior PRB staff with preparing project documents, reports, and correspondence related to analysis and reporting on U.S. and global demographic trends.

• Under the supervision of senior PRB staff, conducts data gathering, cleaning, processing, and analysis tasks, and helps to maintain data documentation.
• Provides technical or administrative review (data checking, fact-checking, proofreading) of work performed by PRB staff or consultants to ensure data quality.
• Assists with project management tasks, including tracking deliverables, managing workplans, and coordinating with partners.

• Completes proposal coordination tasks as requested, including conducting business development research and formatting documents.
• Organizes in-person and virtual webinars, convenings, and other meetings for internal and external audiences.
• Applies AI-based tools to support data analysis, quality assurance, social media content development, and document preparation as appropriate to enhance work efficiency and quality.
• Supports the creation of written technical products—including writing, liaising with the communications team, managing and incorporating edits from internal and external reviews, creating data visualizations, and finalizing document formatting.
• Provides occasional general administrative support, such as maintaining and sharing files and records related to the Programs department or schedule coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in sociology, demography, economics, geography, applied statistics, or related social science field.
• Hands-on experience working with large data files, ideally on topics related to children and families, population aging, health, the workforce, poverty and inequality, fertility, mortality, and/or migration.

• Basic proficiency in multiple office software and online applications required to complete administrative, editorial, formatting, and data collection tasks, including MS Office and Excel. 
• Basic knowledge of or experience with at least one statistical software or programming language (such as R, SAS, Python, SPSS, or STATA) and demographic data analysis techniques.
• Strong quantitative and organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to perform multiple tasks and prioritize work according to staff needs and deadlines.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively on teams as well as independently.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work respectfully and collegially in teams and with professionals of different levels and backgrounds, and to adapt to shifting priorities and timelines.
• Experience with ArcGIS and/or developing data visualizations a plus.
• Interest in exploring or applying AI-assisted research and workflow tools a plus.

Applications: Please upload resume and cover letter when applying. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Only finalists will be contacted. 

The PRB office is in Washington, D.C.; this position is hybrid with at least 1 day spent in the office per week.   

Hiring for this position is for one year and is contingent on continued funding.

Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Disabled/Veteran