Open Positions at the Joint Committee

Economics Research Assistant:

The Joint Committee on Taxation is seeking to hire an economics research assistant. The primary responsibility of the position involves assisting staff economists in performing research, constructing data sets, and enhancing statistical models used to create revenue estimates for Congress. The economics research assistant will gain substantial experience and mentoring while working alongside economists across a variety of policy-relevant issues, making the position ideal for those intending to later apply for graduate education in economics, statistics, or public policy. Given the Joint Committee’s structure and nonpartisan role in the tax legislative process, the position requires collaboration, integrity, and perseverance. 

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with coursework in economics, computer science, statistics, or related quantitative fields completed by June 2027, and proficiency in one or more of the following statistical software languages: Stata, Matlab, SAS, R, Python, or SQL. Preference will be given to individuals interested in starting in July 2027 or earlier and committing to two years in the position. Eligible candidates must meet citizenship requirements for employment in the Federal government (generally, be U.S. citizens or have legal residency that permits timely completion of the citizenship process). To apply, please submit a cover letter, your academic transcript or an unofficial copy, and resume via email to Ms. Taylor Rose at Taylor.Rose@jct.gov. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning November 16, 2026 until the position is filled, with interviews taking place in November and December. 

Legal Research Analyst:

The Joint Committee on Taxation seeks a highly motivated professional to join its nonpartisan staff as a Legal Research Analyst to coordinate and manage its print and electronic library collections and conduct legal and legislative research. The Legal Research Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Joint Committee’s Legal Research & Reference Librarian on a wide range of projects related to information management, including legal and legislative research, resource acquisition and cataloging, and archival management and records retention. 

The ideal candidate is a self-directed, resourceful professional with a strong interest in legal librarianship and government information. They demonstrate initiative, sound judgement, and the ability independently to manage competing priorities, meet demanding deadlines, and balance short and long-term projects in a fast-paced environment.

Necessary skills include:

• Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, and take ownership of tasks through completion, with a strong sense of accountability and follow-through. 
• Capacity to manage and reprioritize simultaneous projects and rigorous deadlines.
• Ability to balance research and administrative responsibilities while collaborating effectively with colleagues.  
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and commitment to accuracy and timely execution. 

See website for more details (https://www.jct.gov/careers/open-positions/). 

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Requirements:  A bachelor’s degree in political science, American history, information studies, legal studies, economics or other related field and an interest and understanding of the American legislative process – including prior congressional experience – sufficient to understand complex policy issues. Strong writing, communication, and research skills, including knowledge of specialized legal and legislative databases, and research experience are required. A Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from an ALA-accredited program is preferred, however not required.

Salary and benefits:  Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.

To apply:  Please submit a cover letter and resume to Ms. Taylor Rose by email at Taylor.Rose@jct.gov. Please include “Legal Research Analyst” in the subject line. Application will close on December 4, 2026.

Neil Moskowitz Economics Lecture

 

We are pleased to be hosting the seventh Neil Moskowitz Economics Lecture. This lecture series brings high profile academic and policy-making economists to campus to talk about what economic research can tell us about the contemporary challenges facing countries and societies across the globe.  

The lecture series is named in honor of Neil Moskowitz, a UMD Economics alumnus who continues to support our department and college in many important ways.  All faculty, staff, students and alumni are welcome.

New Ideas Competition at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University

The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University has opened applications for its fifth annual New Ideas competition. The competition explores the different ways business can be a force for good in society. Students of any major in their freshman, sophomore, or junior year are eligible.

There is no application fee. Grand prize winners will take a three-day, all-expenses-paid trip to the Duke campus in April 2027. During the trip, they will present their proposals to influential business leaders, take part in professional development programming, and network with members of the Fuqua community.

Eligibility

• Students in any major

• Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors

Deadline: January 20, 2027

For more information about the competition, see the New Ideas page: https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/using-business-force-good/

A promotional flyer is also available: https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/sites/default/files/media/files/New%20Ideas%20Competition.pdf

Fellowship Opportunity: U.S. Department of the Treasury

 Junior Fellow at the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), U.S. Department of the Treasury

The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), located within the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is seeking Junior Fellows for a two-year, full-time fellowship in the Office of FSOC. FSOC is an interagency group chaired by the Treasury Secretary. It monitors U.S. financial stability and works to assess and mitigate potential risks to the financial system. Candidates should have a strong interest in financial or economic policy.

Junior Fellows will help conduct policy research on some of the Council's larger policy priorities, work with financial market data, and help coordinate FSOC's interagency committee and working group meetings. Fellows also gain exposure to staff and senior officials at FSOC's member agencies. The fixed two-year term suits students considering graduate school later, students who want a taste of federal government work, and students broadly interested in these policy areas.

Qualifications

• Recent or upcoming graduate of an undergraduate program, with a background in economics, finance, public policy, or a related field.

• Interest in financial stability and economic policy.

• Ability to analyze financial market data and conduct policy research.

• Strong written and communication skills.

Deadline: November 15, 2026

For more information about this position and how to apply, see the FSOC Junior Fellowship page: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/fsoc/fsoc-junior-fellowship

Learn more about the Council here: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/fsoc/about-fsoc

Smith Minor Program Info Session - Nov 4th

 

Smith Minors Information Session

Nov 4th 5:30pm-6:30pm

Learn more and RSVP at go.umd.edu/smithminors

Inforum - Research Assistant Position Available

Schedule: Part-Time (10-16 hours/week)
Semester: Fall, 2026 and Spring 2027 with the possibility to extend
Location: On-site in College Park, MD
Compensation: $20/hr

About Inforum

Since its founding in 1967, Inforum (https://inforumecon.com) has been dedicated to improving business planning, government policy analysis, and the general understanding of the economic environment. We work closely with government and private sector organizations to investigate a wide variety of economic issues. Inforum conducts analytical research and projections of macroeconomic and industrial economic data, with particular expertise in input-output techniques, and global and regional economic data. Much of Inforum’s work involves the development and use of detailed models of the U.S. economy that combine a “bottom-up” (input-output) structure with a dynamic macroeconomic
framework.

Position Description

Inforum is seeking a Research Assistant to support our team of economists through research. Research Assistants will gain hands-on experience working with macroeconomic data and economic modeling while developing analytical and research skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform research on various topics to support economic modeling and analysis
• Compile databanks used for modeling and analysis
• Gain knowledge of macroeconomic data from sources such as BLS, BEA and Census
• Monitor and stay abreast of economic developments and news
• Other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program with economics coursework
• Interest in macroeconomic research, economic modeling, and/or policy analysis.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and organizational skills
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, and readiness to learn new skills as projects demand
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and other common software
• Experience with analytical tools and languages such as Stata, SAS, R, or Python. Inforum uses an in-house software package, G7, and we provide ample training, though experience with comparable software is helpful

To Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to info@inforumecon.com. Please include ‘Research Assistant’ in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applications Open for 2027 Orientation Staff

The 2027 Orientation Staff application will open this Monday, October 19th! Students are able to learn more and apply online at orientation.umd.edu/apply. The application will close on November 2nd. 

IMF is Recruiting UMD ECON Students

The IMF is organizing a presentation and interviews for our students. Students are invited to attend an in-person presentation at IMF Headquarters on Monday, November 30, 2026. Following the presentation, the IMF team will conduct preliminary interviews for eligible Economist Program candidates between November 30 and December 4, 2026. Selected PhD candidates will receive a separate communication with their specific interview date and time.

The session will be led by members of the EP team, a Senior Economist, and a former EP participant. It will provide students with an overview of the Economist Program, insights into the work of the IMF, and information on the 2027 recruitment process. The presentation will also include a Q&A segment, giving students an opportunity to engage directly with IMF staff and learn more about career opportunities at the Fund.

While the event is primarily intended for prospective Economist Program candidates, we would also be pleased to welcome other interested students, including candidates for the Fund Internship Program (FIP) and undergraduate economics students interested in the Research Analyst Program (RAP).

The event is open to:

• Prospective Economist Program candidates;
• Candidates interested in the Fund Internship Program (FIP);
• Undergraduate and Master's students interested in the Research Analyst Program (RAP)
• Students wishing to learn more about career opportunities at the IMF.

If you are interested in international economics and research, express your interest by October 6, 2026 using this form: https://forms.gle/dzzDoNhekgAnx5S38

BSOS Be the Solution Workshop: Navigating Difficult Dialogues

Calling all BSOS undergraduates!

Would you like to improve your ability to communicate effectively through challenging topics?

Complete this form to apply for our upcoming interactive workshop where you will learn practical strategies to navigate through tough topics when emotions run high.

Predoctoral Research Specialist at University of Pennsylvania Wharton School

The Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research at the Wharton School is seeking a pre-doctoral Research Associate to support quantitative research in financial economics. The Research Associate will work closely with Finance Professors Patrick Adams, Lu Liu, and Huan Tang. Candidates should have a strong interest in finance and economics research. The selected Research Associate will support research in the fields of monetary policy, FinTech, data economy, and wealth inequality.

The pre-doctoral Research Associate will be responsible for managing and analyzing large, complex datasets to support research projects in these fields. This work will likely involve statistical analysis using programming languages such as Stata, R and Python; computational work using the University of Pennsylvania’s extensive high-performance computing resources; and intelligent use of AI and agentic coding tools. In addition to data-related tasks, the predoc will contribute to other research activities such as reviewing relevant academic literature and policy developments, developing presentation materials, and preparing research papers for submission to top academic journals.

Qualifications

• BA/BS or equivalent in Economics, Finance, Business, Public Policy, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related discipline.
• Independent research experience such as undergraduate research assistantships or thesis research.
• Proficiency in using statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python. Additional coding skills would be valued but not required.
• Experience working carefully with AI and agentic coding tools (e.g. ChatGPT and Claude; Codex and Claude Code), in addition to strong programming knowledge without reliance on these tools.
• The ability to analyze data, create visualizations, and write reports.
• Intrinsic motivation and the capacity to manage work independently.
• A passionate mindset about economic research and quantitative data analysis with the intention of pursuing an economics or finance PhD.

For more information about this position and how to apply, see the Careers@Penn job posting. 

Application Deadline: October 4, 2026.