[Hiring] Research Analyst @Princeton University

Role Description

BDI seeks a full-time Research Analyst to support research analysis, Early Warning activities, and analytic products across the organization.

Reporting to the Research Director, the Research Analyst will work closely with members of the Data and Tools and Early Warning teams to support quantitative research on political violence trends, actors, and regional and local risk dynamics, with a focus on making data and research findings accessible and actionable for internal and external collaborators, community partners, and the general public. This includes:

• Data and trend analysis
• Data preparation and quality assurance
• Visualization
• Contributions to briefings, memos, and public-facing analytic products — including BDI’s County Risk Index and related tools

The Research Analyst will also support the fulfillment of research requests from BDI teams and community partners, providing timely, accurate analysis drawn from BDI's growing library of data sources. Over time, the Research Analyst will develop through increased responsibility for research projects and analytic products as familiarity with BDI's data, methods, and research portfolio grows.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, 1-year term position with the possibility of extension. Work must be performed within the United States and is fully remote.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, Applied Behavioral/Social Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• 2-3+ years of experience in research, policy, community engagement, or related role.
• Interest in and commitment to supporting civil society efforts to address political violence in the United States, including work with partner organizations across diverse political affiliations, geographies, and sectors.
• Interest and ability to translate research findings for policy, practitioner, and community audiences.
• Experience conducting quantitative analysis, including analyzing event-based or other structured data and developing clear, accessible visualizations. Demonstrated data analysis skills will be assessed through a technical exercise for shortlisted candidates.
• Ability to think critically and creatively about social and geographic data, including identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities for further analysis.
• Ability to work collaboratively and proactively in a fast-paced research environment, including responding to emerging questions and priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a multidisciplinary team and collaborators, including partners from diverse backgrounds and in a remote work setting.
• Detail-oriented, self-directed, and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to write clearly and concisely using a variety of quantitative and qualitative inputs.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with political violence research in the United States, with both quantitative and qualitative research experience as a plus.
• Past experience writing policy-focused memos, recommendations, or reports.
• Experience with quantitative data analysis and data visualization using tools such as R, Tableau, or similar software.
• Experience with spatial analysis, including aggregation of demographic and point data to geographic units alongside data visualization or cartography.
• Experience with time series or event data and methods such as scale development, indices, factor analysis, or regression.
• Experience working with data pipelines, Tableau dashboards, or other research-related technical infrastructure.
• Familiarity with data sources relevant to political violence, threats and harassment, elections, civic engagement, or related topics.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and experience as they relate to the Research Analyst role and BDI’s mission. Applications without a cover letter that meets this criteria will not be considered.

Salary Range

$41,000 to $60,000