Internship: Research Intern (Center for Economic and Policy Research)

Deadline: October 1, 2021

Research Intern – Center for Economic and Policy Research (cepr.net)

The Revolving Door Project, a project of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), scrutinizes executive branch personnel (current and potential) as well as congressional oversight of the executive branch. Our goal is to ensure political appointees serve the broad public interest, rather than corporations’ narrow political agenda or their own personal advancement. 

The Revolving Door Project has an opening for a Research Intern. This is a full-time, remote position with a duration of approximately three months (exact dates are flexible as hiring is on a rolling basis).

Job Description: A Research Intern for the Revolving Door Project (RDP) at CEPR is responsible for a variety of important duties. The position involves:

  • Juggling both long and short term research assignments; 
  • Working with and helping to manage multiple proprietary databases;
  • Contributing to blogs and reports; and
  • Occasional proofreading, website, social media, and operations support. 

The Research Intern will have the opportunity, and indeed be encouraged, to propose and undertake independent research projects based on the applicant’s interests and experience, as well as the particular issues that Revolving Door Project is working on at the time. Previous research experience is extremely helpful.

Qualifications

  • Successful candidates will have an interest in topics such as economic justice, American politics, racial justice, the politics of climate change, and law. 
  • Candidates should have some or all of the following: an interest in research; strong knowledge of the political landscape; experience at a nonprofit, union, or similar environment with a track record of successful work; and the ability to learn new software and skills quickly.
  • Candidates should also be willing to criticize politicians of both parties if and when they behave as if captured by corporate interests; however, candidates do not need to believe each party is equally captured.
  • A successful candidate will also have excellent attention to detail, ability to handle multiple projects and manage workflow effectively, good written and verbal communication skills, ability to work both independently and with a team, a sense of humor, and a shared commitment to CEPR and RDP’s mission and values.

Salary: The Revolving Door Project will pay $2529.95 per month. 

Closing Date of Position: Rolling. 

In rare, extenuating circumstances, the application period may be shortened. In the event that the application period is shortened, CEPR will update this posting to notify candidates that they have seven calendar days remaining to apply.

To Apply: Send the following, in a single PDF file, to jobs[at]therevolvingdoorproject.org with the subject line “Research Intern, Revolving Door Project”:

1. a cover letter;

2. a résumé; and

3. a writing sample on a relevant policy-related topic of anywhere from 500 to 1,500 words, or a description of a project you have completed independently or at another organization.

Please do not submit additional information apart from the items listed above. You may address your cover letter to the Research Intern Search Committee if you wish.

Applications that do not include all of the requested materials and that do not follow the formatting guidance will not be considered. 

The search committee usually makes a decision within three weeks of the deadline of the application. If you have any questions, please email info[at]therevolvingdoorproject.org. Absolutely no calls.


Organization Description: The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people’s lives. It is an independent, nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, DC. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.

CEPR is an ideal place to learn about current economic and global justice issues in a friendly, relaxed and fun environment.

The Revolving Door Project (RDP), a project of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), scrutinizes executive branch appointees to ensure they use their office to serve the broad public interest, rather than to entrench corporate power or seek personal advancement.

Many of the deep rules that govern our rigged economy are written within the executive branch and outside the purview of most of civil society. From the semi-independent bureaus of the Treasury Department (the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the IRS) to the Federal Reserve, OMB, FTC, and beyond, executive branch personnel play a significant role in determining the fundamental rules that govern our economy.

The Revolving Door Project educates civil society in order to counteract the advantage that Wall Street and corporate America have in this rule writing process. We do this by alerting and educating the media and activists when hardworking people are being taken advantage of and clarifying by whom. If we want the executive branch to write rules that structure the economy away from rent extraction and in the direction of greater economic equality, we need to ensure the right people hold key executive branch positions like the Treasury Secretary and SEC Commissioner. The executive branch needs to empower dedicated civil servants rather than self-interested people rotating between relatively short stints in government and longer stints in the very industries they’re supposed to regulate.