FIRE Graduate Summer Research Associate

Position Description :

FIRE is seeking a talented and detail-oriented Graduate Summer Research Associate to join our Research team for summer 2026. This full-time 10-week paid position ($8000 stipend) is based at FIREs 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 FIREs Manager of Polling and Analytics and will support ongoing research initiatives. Responsibilities may include drafting short-form research briefs contributing to FIREs 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.

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 2026. Some exceptions may be made for masters students or for advanced doctoral students graduating prior to September 2026.
• 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 :

The Graduate Summer Research Associate position is highly competitive. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Deadline : Sunday January 11 2026 at 11 : 59 p.m. Eastern Time.

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

FIRE isan 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 FIREs hiring process all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment will be required to undergo a background checkas permitted by and in compliance with federal state and local law.

Required Experience :

Intern

Key Skills

Time Management,Computer Skills,Data Collection,Intellectual Property Law,Securities Law,Process Management,Grant Writing,CPT Coding,Program Development,Public Speaking,Manufacturing,Writing Skills

Employment Type : Intern

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1