Research Assistant to the Director - Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST)

About the role

The Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) is seeking up to two part-time research assistants to support major analytical projects on Strategy and Technology. The position is ideal for D.C.-based postdoctoral students, PhD candidates, or Masters students.

Responsibilities

• Research and Analysis
• Conduct high-quality research using online databases, in-person archives, and research libraries
• Locate and analyze hard-to-find sources, including tracking down works in local archives and/or the Library of Congress
• Write advanced summaries of major arguments and prominent sources (without relying primarily on LLMs)
• Draft literature reviews
• Support data collection, database management, and the conceptualization of data-supported research
• Conduct structured interviews with D.C.-based experts and policymakers
• Manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in an area relevant to national security, strategy and technology (e.g., political science, history, strategic studies, international relations; or a relevant STEM area such as biology, computer science, or robotic engineering, etc.)
• Willingness to maintain confidentiality
• Computer competency, including but not limited to Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), Google Workplace (Gmail, contacts, calendar, docs, etc.), Zoom
• Willingness to go occasionally to the Washington Office of CMIST (located on Capitol Hill)
• A writing sample that also demonstrates advanced research skills is required
• Responsible, self-disciplined worker who takes initiative and follows through

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Masters, PhD, or postdoctoral-level candidates and/or those with easy access to excellent library resources