Research Associate – Quantitative Analysis

Overview

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is a Federally-Funded Research and Development Center supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies. IDA’s mission is to provide objective analyses of national security issues and related national challenges, particularly those requiring extraordinary scientific and technical expertise. IDA takes great pride in the high caliber and timeliness of its analyses, which are produced in an atmosphere that encourages collaboration, independent thinking, and objective results.

An opportunity now exists in our Cost Analysis and Research Division (CARD) for a Research Associate. Candidates should be interested in working on a diverse set of emerging problems using advanced analytic techniques to derive data-driven insights for our sponsors. Work at IDA is conducted in a team environment and often involves a multi-disciplinary approach.  Researchers work closely with each other and are in frequent contact with government sponsors.  Consequently, strong communications and interpersonal skills will be greatly valued.

Responsibilities:

IDA is seeking a Research Associate to join the Cost Analysis and Research Division (CARD). Research Associates directly contribute to IDA research efforts as part of diverse and interdisciplinary research teams. The candidate for this position will support various analyses within CARD and may also work with analysts from other divisions at IDA. A Research Associate in CARD will likely be asked to:

• Research topics independently.
• Compile, cleanse, and analyze data.
• Build and develop statistical models.
• Assist in developing and maintaining information sources.
• Attend and participate in project meetings.
• Interact with Governmental sponsors and industrial representatives.
• Provide presentations of analyses.
• Contribute to the writing of reports and papers.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Decision Science, Management Science (or a similar field) is required.
• Demonstrated strong communications skills are essential.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of project teams is vital.
• Experience working with data, including data collection, normalization, analysis, and visualization is highly desirable.
• Prior work experience or internships is preferable.
• Skills working with programming languages (e.g., R, Python, STATA) are a plus.
• Ability to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances is mandatory.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
   

Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are less likely to apply unless they meet all of a job’s requirements. Learning and professional growth are foundational to IDA’s culture. If you think that your skills and experience are a fit for this role, IDA encourages you to apply.