RAND's Summer Associate Program introduces outstanding graduate students to RAND, an institution that conducts research on a wide range of national security problems and domestic and international social policy issues.
RAND is committed to striving for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Research and analysis is enriched by diversity of talents, experiences, and perspectives. We encourage students from different racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, abilities, ages, gender, gender identity/expression, and other underrepresented groups to apply.
The program receives several hundred applications each year; approximately 35–45 students are placed in each cohort. The selection process matches potential Summer Associates with mentors and projects based on their skills, interests, and expertise. Summer Associates work on currently funded projects that have the capacity to support a Summer Associate's work.
The program runs in the summer months only. Summer Associates work at RAND full-time for a 12-week period. If the program proceeds in person, positions will be available in RAND's major U.S. offices—Santa Monica, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, and Boston. Office placement decisions are based on the availability of in-person mentorship and other factors. If the program proceeds as a hybrid or remote/virtual model, remote opportunities will only be available for students residing in the U.S. (excluding U.S. territories) for the duration of the summer associate assignments. Students receive bi-weekly compensation and are given the opportunity to conduct research that can be completed during the summer they are at RAND. The summer earnings for 2022 will be approximately $14,000 (before taxes) for the 12 weeks of full-time research.
Deadline: Dec. 1, 2022
The program is designed for full-time students who have completed at least two years of graduate work leading to a doctorate (e.g., PhD, EDD, DRPH, SciD, etc.) or professional degree (e.g., law or medical degree, professional engineer certificate). Students must be enrolled full-time in a graduate degree program during the spring and fall of 2021 to be considered for the program. Students graduating prior to September 2021 are encouraged to look at our full-time positions at www.rand.org/jobs.html.
U.S. citizenship is not necessary except when required for certain types of project work (e.g., the project contract requires it or the project work itself requires a security clearance). Residency in the U.S. (excluding U.S. territories) will be required for remote/virtual positions.
Most of RAND's professional hiring is at the PhD level, so our summer program is oriented toward individuals who are generally within a year or two of completing their doctorates. Exceptions are made for master's students applying for our engineering and computer or information science positions.
