Research Jobs in District of Columbia

Research jobs in District of Columbia are concentrated in Washington, D.C., where think tanks, federal agencies, and major universities drive continuous demand for policy researchers, social scientists, and data analysts at every level from research associate to senior fellow. Top employers with a lasting D.C. presence include the Brookings Institution, the Urban Institute, and RAND Corporation, alongside a dense cluster of federal contractors and government agencies headquartered in the region. The most in-demand specialties are public policy research, health policy analysis, and social and behavioral science. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles162+
Top employerChildren's National Hospital
Top cityWashington, DC
Cities hiring2
Work type52% Hybrid
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 162+ Research jobs

Georgetown University
Senior Research Analyst, Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)
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Georgetown University
New 19h ago
Senior Research Analyst, Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
$55k - $100k.33/yr
Master's degree
5,001-10,000

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The Heritage Foundation
Prospect Research Associate, Donor Relations
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The Heritage Foundation
Added 1d ago
Prospect Research Associate, Donor Relations
The Heritage Foundation
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Development
Program Management
Project Management
$60k - $70k/yr
Bachelor's degree
201-500

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National Museum of Natural History
Geologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) and/or Biologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow), IS-1350/0401-11
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National Museum of Natural History
Added 1d ago
Geologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) and/or Biologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow), IS-1350/0401-11
National Museum of Natural History
Washington, District of Columbia
Data Analytics
Data Science
Research & Academia
51-200

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STR
Senior Signal Processing Researcher
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STR
Added 1d ago
Senior Signal Processing Researcher
STR
Washington, District of Columbia
Biotech & Life Sciences
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$139k - $170k/yr
Master's degree in physics
501-1,000

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L
Research and Policy Coordinator
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L
Added 1d ago
Research and Policy Coordinator
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Washington, District of Columbia
Account Management
Customer Success
Sales
On-Site
Bachelor's degree

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Research Jobs by City in District of Columbia

Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Foggy Bottom
2 jobs

Research Job Market in District of Columbia

A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Children's National Hospital
    Children's National Hospital14
  • Foundation for Defense of Democracies
    Foundation for Defense of Democracies11
  • Georgetown University
    Georgetown University10
  • Howard University
    Howard University8
  • The National Academies
    The National Academies7

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education18
  • Healthcare & Medical Services11
  • Science & Research3
  • Technology & Software3
  • Government & Public Sector3

What District of Columbia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in research jobs across District of Columbia.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant social science, policy, or technical field
  • Demonstrated experience designing and conducting quantitative or qualitative research studies
  • Proficiency with statistical software such as Stata, R, SAS, or Python
  • Strong writing skills for producing policy briefs, reports, and peer-reviewed publications
  • Familiarity with federal data sources, government datasets, or regulatory research processes
  • Experience presenting findings to government stakeholders, funders, or interdisciplinary teams

Research Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a research in District of Columbia?

Most research positions in D.C. require at minimum a bachelor's degree, though master's and doctoral credentials are standard at think tanks, federal agencies, and contractors. There is no state-issued research license in D.C., but roles tied to federal grants or agency contracts often require background clearance eligibility. Entry-level candidates typically build their path through graduate programs at George Washington University, Georgetown, or American University, then move into junior analyst or research associate roles.

Which companies hire researchs in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia research roles are posted by Children's National Hospital, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Georgetown University and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. D.C.'s concentration of federal agencies, nonprofit policy organizations, and government contractors makes it one of the most active research hiring markets in the country.

Which District of Columbia cities have the most research jobs?

Washington and Foggy Bottom have the most research openings in District of Columbia. Washington, D.C. itself dominates the distribution because it is the seat of federal government and home to the country's densest concentration of think tanks, policy institutes, and government contractors, which draws research demand into the surrounding metro areas of Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland as well.

Are there remote research jobs in District of Columbia?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 63% of research openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on analysis, writing, and data rather than on-site fieldwork. Policy research, literature reviews, and data analysis roles are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements, while positions requiring classified access or direct community-based fieldwork remain predominantly on-site.

How can I get hired as a research in District of Columbia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a research assistant or junior analyst role at a D.C. think tank, federal agency, or university research center. Organizations like the Urban Institute, the Pew Research Center, and American University's research centers regularly bring on entry-level candidates with strong academic backgrounds. A master's thesis, published writing sample, or data analysis portfolio carries significant weight in lieu of formal work experience, and internships with federal agencies or policy organizations are a direct pipeline to full-time offers.

Where can I find and apply to research jobs in District of Columbia?

You can find and apply to research jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current D.C. openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and specialization, and apply directly through each listing.

See All 162+ Research Jobs in District of Columbia

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