FiveThirtyEight is looking for a hardworking, well organized and friendly individual scientific Assistant to track and enter polls and other election data, and to contribute research to political stories and projects.
This part-time position plays a crucial role in supporting FiveThirtyEight’s political reporting and interactive projects, such as: You will help maintain the databases that keep FiveThirtyEight running, particularly our unique poll database. And most excitingly, you will be part of the team feeding real-time data into FiveThirtyEight’s 2022 mid-range forecasting model.
This position is ideal for someone interested in breaking into the world of political data. You will work closely with our Senior Research Assistant and collaborate with our Political Reporters, Copy Desk and Visual Journalists.
This is a US based position. Remote work is being considered, or you can work from our New York City office once it reopens. The exact schedule is flexible (we will work with you to set it) but hours are capped at 29 per week. We hope that you will stay in the job at least until the midterms of 2022, if not longer.
To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Mary Radcliffe, Senior Research Assistant at [email protected] Due to the large number of applications we receive, we cannot guarantee that all applicants will be considered.
Responsibilities:
- Monitor survey messages, collect and enter new surveys into our survey database, and upload data to our survey trackers and models.
- Contribute to original research for specific stories and projects.
- Develop an expert knowledge of US survey operators – their methods, quirks and quality.
- Respond to inquiries from pollsters and the public about our projects and datasets.
Basic Qualifications:
- Experience with spreadsheets and data entry.
- A solid understanding of US politics, particularly electoral politics.
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to perform repetitive tasks (e.g. data entry) in the service of important projects.
- Use online tools like search engines and public databases to track down specific information.
- Convenience with calls, emails, and finding sources to get them to send and answer questions about their dates.
- Availability and willingness to work odd hours. (Surveys often fall late at night or on weekends.)
Preferred Qualifications:
(But if one or more of these are missing, should not prevent you from applying!)
- Professional experience as a research assistant or in an editorial office.
- A strong understanding of how surveys work and the basic statistical concepts required to interpret them.
- Familiarity with relational databases.
ABC News and FiveThirtyEight are Equal Opportunity Employers. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.
