About the position

The NYU Furman Center hires enrolled NYU graduate students to work as graduate researchers on a rolling basis throughout the year. We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2026.

NYU Furman Center’s mission includes a commitment to train the next generation of urban policy leaders. In furtherance of this commitment, we strive to ensure that graduate students work on projects that help meet their longer-term academic and career goals. Graduate students are an integral part of the NYU Furman Center team and are engaged in all aspects of the Center’s work, including research and writing and translating academic research into accessible, high-impact content for public, media, and policymaker audiences. We also plan several policy events and workshops throughout the year, drawing hundreds of industry leaders and practitioners to learn and discuss our latest research and findings. The Center also hosts events targeted to our student team, including skill-building sessions, research seminars, and alumni networking opportunities.

The NYU Furman Center is also home to the Housing Solutions Lab (Lab), which helps small and midsize cities plan, launch, and evaluate evidence-based local housing policies that advance racial equity; increase access to opportunity; and improve long-term health and well-being for residents. In addition to contributing to the NYU Furman Center’s work, graduate student researchers also have the opportunity to work on research and assist in communicating the Lab’s work to a growing audience of researchers and practitioners nationally.

At the NYU Furman Center, our work is a reflection of the amazing people who make up our team, and we are committed to fostering a community that values diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. All candidates should exhibit an interest in the Center’s research areas (housing, neighborhoods, and urban policy).

Day-to-day activities may include: conducting policy scans and literature reviews, reviewing and editing policy documents, elevating the Furman Center and Housing Solutions Lab’s internal and external digital communications strategy through writing policy stories and creating data-driven interactives, and drafting timely press releases and social media content. Research assistants can also expect to assist in implementing a Center-wide editorial vision and content strategy across digital platforms, including our website, social media, and newsletters to assist the Center in continuing to build and drive meaningful housing and urban policy dialogue. Responsibilities may also include assisting with media relations, attending policy discussions pertinent to the current debate, and planning Furman Center-led policy events. In addition, the role may involve contributing to policy and research activities focused on housing issues in small and midsize cities, which may include monitoring the national policy landscape for issues and trends in cities, drafting policy briefs and presentations, and assisting with preparation and follow up of meetings with networks of city officials.

Qualifications and Skills: Applicants with one or more of the following qualifications are encouraged to apply:

• Research and writing
• Policy and legislative tracking and analysis
• Project management and organization
• Event planning and coordination
• Connecting data and policy research with current policy debate
• Translating complex subjects across multiple channels, including web, social media, and newsletter content, producing and publishing policy stories, engaging social media content, presentations, and fact sheets
• Mailchimp or other email marketing systems
• PowerPoint and presentation development
• Materials design with Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience with web/digital marketing analytics (i.e. Google Analytics, Hootsuite, etc.)
• WordPress (HTML knowledge a plus)
  

Please highlight relevant skills and your degree of proficiency in your resume or cover letter. The strongest applications include samples of prior work or other documentation demonstrating experience or aptitude in these areas.

Newly-hired graduate researchers must commit 15-20 hours per week during the school year and may work up to 35 hours/week during summer and holiday breaks. We are currently asking students to work at least two-thirds of their hours in-person at our office; students may choose to work the rest of their hours in-person or remotely.

Performance will be evaluated through informal and formal check-ins with the Director of New Research Partnerships, the Director of External Affairs, the Policy Director, or another designated full-time staff member of the Furman Center and its Housing Solutions Lab.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the hourly base salary range for student employment positions is $17.00 per hour for undergraduate and Law students and $30.00 per hour for graduate students. The hourly rate for graduate employees is based on the collective bargaining agreement with Local 7902.

To Apply: Interested candidates should email the required documents below as attachments to furmanjobs@nyu.edu with the subject line “Graduate Researcher Application: Policy and Communications (Fall 2026).” Please also indicate in your application your fall availability and when you are available to begin working.

1. Current resume
2. Cover letter
3. Writing sample (1-3 pages)
4. Academic transcripts for undergraduate and past/current graduate degree work (unofficial copies of the transcript are acceptable)
5. Portfolio of relevant web-based, design, or data visualization work (not required)

EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.