Research Associate: Democratic Governance Policy

Graduate Research Associate: Democratic Governance Policy

Introduction: ACE is seeking a Graduate Research Associate to lead our Democratic Governance Policy research team Fall 2025 through Summer 2026. Research Associates may be graduate students (MPP, MPA, Law, etc.) or recent grads with relevant experience and expertise. Research teams are comprised of Policy Fellows – current undergraduate and graduate students who undertake policy research and publish briefs. Research Associates are an essential part of ACE's mission to engage young voters through nonpartisan research, and empower them to make informed choices. The Democratic Governance Policy team will produce nonpartisan, accessible policy briefs on U.S. democratic governance policy for publication on the ACE website. All returning Research Associates are eligible to apply for stipend funding after they complete their first research cycle (Fall 2025). Stipends are calculated based on financial need and available funding.

Detailed Description: The Research Associate is responsible for providing guidance to their team and giving individualized feedback on Policy Fellows’ research deliverables. Associates will facilitate a weekly team check-in meeting and will meet with the Director of Policy Research once a week to share updates on their team’s progress. At this time it is estimated that there will be 5-6 Policy Fellows on the team. The Research Associate will edit and provide feedback on research projects to ensure every brief is well-researched, informative, and meets ACE’s rigorous quality standards. Research Associates are invited to undertake their own policy research throughout the semester for publication, although this is not required.

Prior to the formal start of the Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 cycles, Research Associates will interview finalist Fellow candidates for their team and send out offers. Research Associates receive training in how to select candidates who will be successful in the program. 

This position requires an estimated 10 hours per week

• 1 hour: Leading weekly meeting with research team
• 1 hour: Weekly RA check-in with Director
• 6-8 hours: Editing and providing feedback on student research
•  

Location: This position can be undertaken remotely from anywhere with reliable internet connection.

Management: This position reports to the Director of Policy. RAs will work collaboratively with the Director throughout the research cycle to suggest improvements to ACE’s research process. 

 Availability: The majority of time in this role is self-scheduled. However, Research Associates meet at the same time each week with their team members throughout the semester, so you should account for 1-2 hours of synchronous work per week.

Desired Skills:

• Policy research experience, especially with a focus on democratic governance policy (constitutional law, voting/election policy, census policy, etc.)
• Leadership and mentoring experience 
• Excellent professional writing skills
• Experience in copyediting or providing feedback on written deliverables
• Organized, self-motivated, and able to work with limited supervision

Technical Skills:

• ACE utilizes Google Drive to track and store all research. Previous experience with Google Drive is not mandatory, but Research Associates must be willing to work EXCLUSIVELY through Google Drive, not Microsoft Word or Pages.
• ACE utilizes Canvas, a learning management system similar to Google Classroom, to submit assignments and provide resources. Previous experience with Canvas is not mandatory, but Research Associates must be willing to make an account on the platform.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to apply for funding beginning your second semester as an RA (Fall 2025)
• Gain leadership experience in a professional research environment
• Opportunity to publish work in subject of interest
• Demonstrate subject matter expertise by supervising publication of 6-12 research briefs in field of interest
• Build network with policy-focused students across the country

ACE's Research Associates have been accepted into the top universities in their field for graduate study, won Boren, Fulbright, and DAAD awards, and gone on to work at elite think tanks, consulting firms, and international organizations. This position is an opportunity which is entirely what you make of it, and can be leveraged to have a significant impact on futures and career paths.

Academic Credit: This internship can be undertaken for academic credit. Some educational institutions require prior approval before the start of an internship. It is the responsibility of the student to check with their institution to be sure they meet any requirements before they accept a position. The Director of Policy Research will communicate with universities to advocate on behalf of academic credit for Research Associates if requested.

We are looking for enthusiastic students who share our belief that democracy works best when citizens are actively informed and engaged. ACE is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, or other factors protected by law.