Become a Research Associate
What is an ACE Research Associate?
ACE recognizes the power of young leaders in mentoring the next generation of policy thinkers. ACE Research Associates—graduate students with expertise in their field or highly-qualified undergraduate students—manage teams of Student Fellows and provide feedback as Fellows produce nonpartisan, accessible research briefs for publication.
Research Associates work one-on-one with Student Fellows to develop and iterate on their research projects. Over the course of the research cycle, Research Associates develop core leadership skills including meeting facilitation, interviewing, constructive criticism, and creative problem solving.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this page for more info.
Our Amazing Fellows come from all across the country. To read more about them, click here
Application Deadline
ACE hosts three Student Fellowship programs per year: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Research Associates are expected to commit to three consecutive semesters. Applications for Research Associate positions are evaluated on a rolling basis, so we encourage interested students to apply as early as possible. If a posting is open on our Handshake page, we are still actively accepting applications.
Time Commitment
10- 15 hours per week
Application Process
Step 1
Develop a sense of ACE’s writing style and publication goals by reading published briefs on our website
Step 2
Visit our Handshake page to see which policy teams have openings. If your school does not use Handshake, reach out to ella@ace-usa.org for more information on how to apply.
Step 3
Thoroughly read the job description on Handshake and attach all required materials (resume and writing sample are required; cover letter is optional)
Step 4
20 to 30-minute interview with the Director of Policy
Step 5
Accept your offer in a timely manner
Step 6
Complete onboarding and training, participate in hiring Policy Fellow cohort, and prepare for a great research cycle at ACE!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this internship for academic credit?
Yes! If your graduate program hosts an internship credit or practicum program, you can count your hours at ACE for credit. If you plan to use the Research Associate role to receive academic credit, make sure to notify the Director of Policy Research at the beginning of the research cycle and clarify any specific requirements to ensure you receive credit. It is the responsibility of the Research Associate to ensure this internship meets all the requirements for academic credit from their institution, and request any necessary information or paperwork at the beginning of the research cycle.
What makes a successful Research Associate?
We encourage any graduate student or recent graduate with a demonstrated interest in policy research and mentorship to apply for our Research Associate Program. There is no one degree that we look for when evaluating candidates; while many of our Research Associates come to us from MPP and MPA programs, we also have hosted excellent Research Associates pursuing MPH, MSW, MA, MS, and JD programs. Recent graduates (undergraduate or graduate) with demonstrated experience in a relevant policy area are also welcome to apply.
NOTE: Studies have shown that women and BIPOC individuals often hesitate to apply for roles unless they meet or exceed 100% of the listed requirements. We encourage anyone who thinks they have the drive to succeed in this role to apply.
What is the time commitment for a Research Associate?
We ask Research Associates to commit an average of 10 to 15 hours per week to this program. ACE recognizes that students juggle multiple commitments, and this internship is designed to be a feasible addition to your academic courseload and/or work opportunities. The internship primarily consists of self-scheduled work to meet weekly deadlines, with 1-2 weekly meetings.