Research Assistant

Position description

The Belfer Center seeks applications for a full-time research assistant role with the Belfer Center Applied History Project. The Applied History RA is responsible for organizing project initiatives such as seminars for the Ernest May Fellows in History and Policy, regular sessions of the Applied History Working Group, and a monthly Applied History newsletter. The Applied History RA reports directly to Graham Allison, the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at the Harvard Kennedy School in conducting in-depth research on topics such as US foreign policy and strategy; China; Russia; defense and intelligence policy; global nuclear security and nonproliferation; international history; and a range of other major international security issues. To learn about the Applied History Project’s mission, programming, and research, please visit its website:

https://www.belfercenter.org/programs/applied-history-project

The Center has a dual mission: (1) to provide leadership in advancing policy-relevant knowledge about the most important challenges of international security and other critical issues where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect; and (2) to prepare future generations of leaders for these arenas.

We believe that creating a diverse and inclusive organization is central to our ability to achieve our mission. It is our goal to promote historically underrepresented groups without our organization and within the fields of science and international affairs.

Position Description

Research Assistants work closely with other members of a small research team and play a key role in:  

• Conducting research on specific international security topics and producing in-depth analytic memos, eventually building deep expertise in their area(s) of responsibility.  
• Contributing to internal and external publications such as research reports, op-eds, academic articles, and book chapters.  
• Planning and conducting research for high-level events, including private working groups and large public events.  
• Other related job duties, as required.  

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Significant knowledge of, and interest in, American and world history exceptional writing skills; and a demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision under tight deadlines.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred, though we will consider candidates who have a bachelor’s degree with extraordinary academic or professional credentials.
• Coursework related to American and world history and US foreign policy is a bonus.
• 1+ year of related work experience preferred but not required.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on theacademicjob.com