US Research Fellow
US Research Fellow
LOCATION: Remote Role (US-based)
More in Common US is seeking advanced PhD students to serve as Research Fellows for the summer and fall of 2023, with the potential for extension into 2024. The Research Fellows will work closely with the US Research Team to design, execute, analyze, and present research that aims to better understand the American public as well as defuse political polarization and strengthen social cohesion.
ABOUT MORE IN COMMON US
More in Common US is a research and civic non-partisan non-profit that is part of a new international initiative, set up in 2017, to build communities and societies that are more resilient to increasing threats of polarization and division and therefore better able to solve problems. We work alongside national teams in Germany, France, Poland and the United Kingdom.
We conduct research into populations through the lens of identity, values, and beliefs. We leverage our findings to apply interventions with partners to strengthen democratic culture, build new social and civic fabric, and enable Americans to work across lines of difference to solve problems. Our website is here.
Although we are only at the beginning of our journey as an organization, we know one thing for certain: our team is our greatest asset.
We are looking for people who:
Are strategic, rigorous, restless, energetic and creative
Have direct experience with and understand people from different perspectives and backgrounds
Feel comfortable and excited to dwell on the edge but not on the margins
Are interested in doing work that is non-partisan
Are able to think ahead
Are able to get big stuff done
Are excited to work with heart as well as head
Want to be part of turning despair into hope
ABOUT THIS ROLE
More in Common US is looking for Research Fellows, mission-driven individuals who are excited to develop creative and rigorous methods of understanding the drivers of and solutions to polarization and division in the US.
We are specifically looking for PhD students to aid in the research design and analysis of the following on-going projects:
A large quantitative and qualitative study of the drivers (both psychological, social, and environmental) that motivate people to or dissuade people from engaging in social contact across lines of difference.
A national study exploring perceptions and meta perceptions within and across the three largest faith traditions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) in the US. We will also study Americans who do not identify with any particular faith tradition.
Research into how civil society actors and other pro-democracy groups can better strengthen a shared, superordinate American identity in order to foster collaboration and social cohesion across lines of difference in the US, with a focus on American history.
We welcome and encourage applications from all students who are interested in research relating to social cohesion; social contact theory; pro-social norms, behaviors, emotions; communications in a polarized context; and political polarization. If you have specific expertise or interest in any of the three projects listed above, please note that in your cover letter.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Research Fellow will serve as an integral member of the US team, coordinating with the partnerships and research teams to develop and communicate insights drawn from our original public opinion and experimental research. The Research Fellow will also be expected to assist other team members in identifying how applications of our research and its insights might inspire or inform real-world initiatives.
There are no off-the-shelf solutions for the challenges of polarization and division in the US, so the Research Fellow will need to feel comfortable hypothesizing about how insights from our research and related research might help shape initiatives that advance our mission and support our partners.
Research Execution
Work directly with our research team to execute research, including:
Crafting survey instruments, focus groups guides, and in-depth interview scripts to explore complex subjects related to Americans’ attitudes, beliefs, identities, and perceptions of themselves and others;
Processing large amounts of qualitative data and identifying areas for further investigation for exploration in quantitative instruments;
Analyzing quantitative data; generating crosstabs, indices, and other metrics to classify respondents in original and useful ways; and,
Developing interesting insights into written analyses and data visualizations.
Partnership and Application
Collaborate with the partnerships team to develop partner-centric research projects and to communicate findings, including by:
Engaging directly in meetings with partners to understand their goals, metrics, and intervention strategies;
Working with the partnerships lead to develop curated research and organizational tools; and,
Developing presentations of our research to partners.
Communication
Collaborate with the broader US team to communicate our research, including by:
Presenting our findings to funders, think tanks, media, public officials, and international audiences;
Assisting with the integration of research findings into workshops and other exercises; and,
Engaging in conversations about how findings can be interpreted to advance strategic challenges and organizational activities in the US.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
We look for great people before we look for specific qualifications and experience. However, the minimum qualification required to be considered an applicant is to be a currently enrolled Ph.D. student in a related field (e.g., social psychology, political science, computational social science, etc.).
Additional considerations include:
Experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research
Excellent writing and communication skills
Comfort with navigating spreadsheets and converting analyses into presentation material
Comfortable working collaboratively with a wide range of partners from across the ideological spectrum
Strong project management skills
Experience with advanced statistical programs (e.g. SPSS, R); experience with qualitative software (e.g. Dedoose, Atlas) is a plus
Experience and/or particular interest in any of the topics of our on-going research projects listed above
Experience in U.S. politics/public policy is a plus
DIVERSITY + EQUITY + INCLUSION
We recognize our impact will be bolstered if our team reflects a broad range of social and cultural backgrounds, beliefs, political persuasions and life experiences. We value diversity across many dimensions, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, religious belief, and political orientation.
TIMELINE, HOURS, AND COMPENSATION
TIMELINE – We are looking for Research Fellows to join late May/early June and to serve in the role through the end of 2023 (with potential to extend).
HOURS – We anticipate weekly requirements will fluctuate based upon project workload and fellows’ availabilities. In general, we anticipate an average workload of approximately 12 hours per week. While the Fellows will have flexibility to make their own schedule, they are expected to participate in weekly team meetings and to be available during East Coast hours.
COMPENSATION – Compensation will be $35 per hour.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The application deadline is February 10th. Applications should include a cover letter (max 1 page) and a CV or resume. Apply here: ------------/apply/NVd64Mr3uB/US-Research-Fellow
LOCATION: Remote Role (US-based)
More in Common US is seeking advanced PhD students to serve as Research Fellows for the summer and fall of 2023, with the potential for extension into 2024. The Research Fellows will work closely with the US Research Team to design, execute, analyze, and present research that aims to better understand the American public as well as defuse political polarization and strengthen social cohesion.
ABOUT MORE IN COMMON US
More in Common US is a research and civic non-partisan non-profit that is part of a new international initiative, set up in 2017, to build communities and societies that are more resilient to increasing threats of polarization and division and therefore better able to solve problems. We work alongside national teams in Germany, France, Poland and the United Kingdom.
We conduct research into populations through the lens of identity, values, and beliefs. We leverage our findings to apply interventions with partners to strengthen democratic culture, build new social and civic fabric, and enable Americans to work across lines of difference to solve problems. Our website is here.
Although we are only at the beginning of our journey as an organization, we know one thing for certain: our team is our greatest asset.
We are looking for people who:
Are strategic, rigorous, restless, energetic and creative
Have direct experience with and understand people from different perspectives and backgrounds
Feel comfortable and excited to dwell on the edge but not on the margins
Are interested in doing work that is non-partisan
Are able to think ahead
Are able to get big stuff done
Are excited to work with heart as well as head
Want to be part of turning despair into hope
ABOUT THIS ROLE
More in Common US is looking for Research Fellows, mission-driven individuals who are excited to develop creative and rigorous methods of understanding the drivers of and solutions to polarization and division in the US.
We are specifically looking for PhD students to aid in the research design and analysis of the following on-going projects:
A large quantitative and qualitative study of the drivers (both psychological, social, and environmental) that motivate people to or dissuade people from engaging in social contact across lines of difference.
A national study exploring perceptions and meta perceptions within and across the three largest faith traditions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) in the US. We will also study Americans who do not identify with any particular faith tradition.
Research into how civil society actors and other pro-democracy groups can better strengthen a shared, superordinate American identity in order to foster collaboration and social cohesion across lines of difference in the US, with a focus on American history.
We welcome and encourage applications from all students who are interested in research relating to social cohesion; social contact theory; pro-social norms, behaviors, emotions; communications in a polarized context; and political polarization. If you have specific expertise or interest in any of the three projects listed above, please note that in your cover letter.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Research Fellow will serve as an integral member of the US team, coordinating with the partnerships and research teams to develop and communicate insights drawn from our original public opinion and experimental research. The Research Fellow will also be expected to assist other team members in identifying how applications of our research and its insights might inspire or inform real-world initiatives.
There are no off-the-shelf solutions for the challenges of polarization and division in the US, so the Research Fellow will need to feel comfortable hypothesizing about how insights from our research and related research might help shape initiatives that advance our mission and support our partners.
Research Execution
Work directly with our research team to execute research, including:
Crafting survey instruments, focus groups guides, and in-depth interview scripts to explore complex subjects related to Americans’ attitudes, beliefs, identities, and perceptions of themselves and others;
Processing large amounts of qualitative data and identifying areas for further investigation for exploration in quantitative instruments;
Analyzing quantitative data; generating crosstabs, indices, and other metrics to classify respondents in original and useful ways; and,
Developing interesting insights into written analyses and data visualizations.
Partnership and Application
Collaborate with the partnerships team to develop partner-centric research projects and to communicate findings, including by:
Engaging directly in meetings with partners to understand their goals, metrics, and intervention strategies;
Working with the partnerships lead to develop curated research and organizational tools; and,
Developing presentations of our research to partners.
Communication
Collaborate with the broader US team to communicate our research, including by:
Presenting our findings to funders, think tanks, media, public officials, and international audiences;
Assisting with the integration of research findings into workshops and other exercises; and,
Engaging in conversations about how findings can be interpreted to advance strategic challenges and organizational activities in the US.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
We look for great people before we look for specific qualifications and experience. However, the minimum qualification required to be considered an applicant is to be a currently enrolled Ph.D. student in a related field (e.g., social psychology, political science, computational social science, etc.).
Additional considerations include:
Experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research
Excellent writing and communication skills
Comfort with navigating spreadsheets and converting analyses into presentation material
Comfortable working collaboratively with a wide range of partners from across the ideological spectrum
Strong project management skills
Experience with advanced statistical programs (e.g. SPSS, R); experience with qualitative software (e.g. Dedoose, Atlas) is a plus
Experience and/or particular interest in any of the topics of our on-going research projects listed above
Experience in U.S. politics/public policy is a plus
DIVERSITY + EQUITY + INCLUSION
We recognize our impact will be bolstered if our team reflects a broad range of social and cultural backgrounds, beliefs, political persuasions and life experiences. We value diversity across many dimensions, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, religious belief, and political orientation.
TIMELINE, HOURS, AND COMPENSATION
TIMELINE – We are looking for Research Fellows to join late May/early June and to serve in the role through the end of 2023 (with potential to extend).
HOURS – We anticipate weekly requirements will fluctuate based upon project workload and fellows’ availabilities. In general, we anticipate an average workload of approximately 12 hours per week. While the Fellows will have flexibility to make their own schedule, they are expected to participate in weekly team meetings and to be available during East Coast hours.
COMPENSATION – Compensation will be $35 per hour.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The application deadline is February 10th. Applications should include a cover letter (max 1 page) and a CV or resume. Apply here: ------------/apply/NVd64Mr3uB/US-Research-Fellow
