Graduate Summer Research Associate Intern

FIRE Graduate Summer Research Associate

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.

Position Description

FIRE is seeking a talented and detail-oriented Graduate Summer Research Associate to join our Research team for summer 2027. This full-time, paid summer position ($20/hr) is based at FIRE’s Philadelphia office and offers an unparalleled opportunity for graduate students interested in research on freedom of expression, academic freedom, and related issues.

The Summer Research Associate will work closely with FIRE’s Manager of Polling and Analytics, and will support ongoing research initiatives. Responsibilities may include drafting short-form research briefs, contributing to FIRE’s Newsdesk or Substack, conducting data analysis and cleaning, and collaborating on academic papers. The Summer Research Associate will also deliver a short seminar at the end of the summer experience.

The Summer Research Associate will have the opportunity to participate in seminars with FIRE staff and other experts on freedom of expression and related topics, as well as take part in other professional development opportunities.

FIRE is targeting a position length of 12 weeks, but is willing to consider up to 16 weeks for the right candidate.

Eligibility Requirements

• Current full-time graduate student with excellent academic credentials who has completed at least two years of graduate study leading to a doctorate degree.
• Should be enrolled full-time in a graduate program during both the spring and fall of 2027. Some exceptions may be made for master’s students, or for advanced doctoral students graduating prior to September 2027.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and must reside in the U.S. for the duration of the appointment.

Skills and Experience

Strong commitment to FIRE’s mission and work. Excellent writing and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated interest and experience in the social sciences, survey research, data analysis, and research methodology. Experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.Proficiency with statistical or general-purpose programming tools (e.g., SPSS, R, SAS, Stata).

Work type: Temporary, full time

Location: FIRE’s Philadelphia Office

Pay: $20/hr (e.g., $9600 for 12 weeks)

Dates: Summer 2027. 12 weeks, but willing to consider up to 16 for the right candidate.

Reports to: Manager of Polling and Analytics

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

FIRE is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. 

As part of FIRE's hiring process, all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment will be required to undergo a background check as permitted by and in compliance with federal, state and local law.