Spring '26 Research Data Associate

Research Data Associates will support three interconnected projects within the Tracking Underreported Financial Flows (TUFF) Unit:

• Apply the TUFF open-source data collection methodology to gather, verify, and synthesize information on Chinese official financing to guaranteed entities, and projects linked to critical minerals and the clean energy transition.
• Systematically review and extract key information from government documents, NGO reports, academic literature, media articles, and other open-source materials; generate structured database records that meet TUFF standards; and draft clear narrative explanations of financial flows.
• Conduct targeted online searches to resolve information gaps, support data validation and quality assurance, and contribute to ongoing enhancements of TUFF's LMIC, Transition Minerals, and Loan Performance datasets.

This role creates positive change by systematically tracking and analyzing underreported financial flows, particularly Chinese development finance, which helps increase transparency in international development and supports better policy decisions for low- and middle-income countries.

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working knowledge of international development policy research or Chinese development finance, with strong understanding of sovereign debt, public finance, and the policy environment.
• Significant experience using R or comparable data analysis software, with proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly with diverse audiences, work independently, manage time effectively, and operate with strong organizational skills and self-initiative.

Pay is between $15.5/hr to $25/hr, depending on qualifications and prior experience. This is a limited-term position for six months, subject to an extension for another six months depending on funding and project requirements. The position is remote and part-time, averaging approximately 25 hours per week.