Research Assistants positions

The Research Department provides current economic analysis and policy advice to Federal Reserve decision makers and conducts innovative research with the aim of improving our understanding of the regional, U.S. and global economies and encouraging better policy outcomes.

What Research Assistants Do

• Assist economists with time-critical analysis of current economic data for important monetary policy work. This includes gathering and interpreting data and preparing briefing materials on regional and national economic conditions.
• Perform data collection, statistical and econometric analysis, literature reviews, and write articles and prepare presentations in support of scholarly research projects.

Day-to-Day Activities of Research Assistants

• Review, organize, and analyze economic and financial data.
• Write programs using statistical software such as STATA, MATLAB, R or SAS.
• Conduct economic research for policy memos and for articles intended for publication in academic journals, Boston Fed publications, and business periodicals.
• Conduct literature reviews, perform thorough data analysis, and prepare written summaries of results for economists.
• Prepare charts and tables using spreadsheet and graphic software packages.
• Design programs to manipulate data, perform statistical tests, and run regressions. Update and maintain data series regularly used by economists.
• Proofread, edit, and fact-check articles and papers.

RA Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in economics, math, statistics, computer science, international relations or related field with concentration in economics.
• An excellent academic record
• Strong analytical, communications, and organization skills
• Experience with statistical software packages and knowledge of statistics and econometrics
• Previous economic research experience or involvement in an independent research project is helpful.

Other Requirements

• US citizenship or permanent residency is required for RA positions

How to Apply

We recruit each fall for full-time, two-year RA positions that begin the following June. Applications must include the following to be considered:

• Cover letter: Cover letters should be addressed to Jeffrey Kelley, Recruiting Manager. It should include your statement of interest in the position, including how a research assistant position at the Fed is relevant to your career aspirations, as well as particular qualities or skills that make you a good candidate.
• Résumé: Résumés should include all education information, including institutions attended and areas of concentration, overall undergraduate GPA as well as GPA in your major, graduate GPA (if applicable), computer skills, and relevant work experience.
• Writing sample: Your writing sample should be 3-5 pages, preferably on an economic topic and should include technical content. Writing samples might include papers from undergraduate economics classes or a thesis. Excerpts from longer pieces are acceptable.
• Transcript: We accept unofficial transcripts from each college or university attended as part of your application. If you become a finalist for a position, we will ask that you submit an official transcript.
• Recommendation Letters: Two letters of recommendation are required, one from an economics professor. Letter should be emailed to Sonia Pierre at Bos.RA.Recruiting@bos.frb.org. Please request that they include your name in the subject line of the email.

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