Sr. Research Assistant

The Foreign Policy Institute is seeking a casual Senior Research Assistant (SRA) with a knowledge of diplomacy and Cold War history to assist Edward Luce, U.S. National Editor of the Financial Times research a biography of Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, U.S. national security advisor (1977 to 1981).  

The position will serve as the primary assistant to Mr. Edward Luce, U.S. National Editor for the Financial Times, who will be authoring an unprecedented comprehensive biography of Dr. Brzezinski.  The post holder will work directly for Mr. Luce in the creation of the biography and report to Dr. Carla Freeman, Director of the SAIS Foreign Policy Institute. The SRA will work for up to approximately ten months, including through the summer of 2021 at the Library of Congress and, when it can be done digitally, remotely.   

The Foreign Policy Institute (FPI) of The Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) unites the worlds of scholarship and policy in the search for realistic answers to international issues facing the United States and the world. FPI serves as a platform for the Johns Hopkins SAIS community of students, faculty, and staff to connect to the broader Washington, DC policy community. FPI seeks to bridge the worlds of policy and scholarship through research, education, and outreach initiatives for the Johns Hopkins SAIS and broader policy community.  

To this end, FPI manages research programs on issues shaping geopolitical change and global and national responses to that change; hosts special, fellow-driven projects on understudied and timely issues in international affairs; runs educational initiatives such as skills courses and executive education/professional development courses; and provides support to the Johns Hopkins SAIS community through a robust fellows program, a prestigious research assistant program, and special events. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary research assistant to Mr. Edward Luce, U.S. National Editor for the Financial Times.
• Work directly for Mr. Luce in the creation of a biography of Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski.
• Provide extensive research in twentieth-century U.S. diplomacy.  
• Understand and anticipate the author’s research needs and plan research activities accordingly in tandem with the author.   
• Creatively use copious research material and flexibility in working according to the author’s research requirements.   
• The post holder should expect to perform duties requiring 20 – 25 hours a week.  

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in related discipline. MPH or MS in relevant field preferred.  Two years related experience. Additional graduate level education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

JHU Equivalency Formula:  30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience.  For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum experience required for the respective job.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one year of relevant graduate education or equivalent.

• Experience researching twentieth-century U.S. diplomacy.
• Experience or strong interest in the conduct and study of diplomacy.

Preferred Qualifications: MA in relevant field preferred.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Previous experience conducting research and working as a Research Assistant.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.  
• Familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Physical Requirements:  Sitting for extended periods. Lift standard weight.

Classified Title: Sr. Research Assistant 
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MB 
Starting Salary Range: $30.00/Hour
Employee Group: Casual / On Call 
Schedule: 20 - 25 hours /Week
Exempt Status: Exempt  
Location: District of Columbia 
Department Name:  JHU Foreign Policy Institute 
Personnel Area: SAIS

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [email protected]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work.  Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

During the Influenza ("the flu") season, as a condition of employment, The Johns Hopkins Institutions require all employees who provide ongoing services to patients or work in patient care or clinical care areas to have an annual influenza vaccination or possess an approved medical or religious exception. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination of employment.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Note: Job Postings are updated daily and remain online until filled. 

EEO is the Law
Learn more:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf