Graduate Research Assistants

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute invites applications for three graduate research assistant positions for the 2025-2026 school year.

  • Demographic Research Team
    • The graduate assistant will work with the premier demographic team serving Utah by working with local and national data, demographic changes, and population characteristics.
  • Economic Research Team
    • The graduate research assistant will work with Utah’s premier economic research team. Research may include coding, econometrics, forecasting, data analytics in R and Python, data visualization, and general economic research.
  • Public Finance Research Team
    • The graduate research assistant will work with the chief economist and public finance research team. Research may include economic studies, public finance & public policy, and financial impact analysis.

Position Overview

  • Graduate research assistants will work 20 hours per week during the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters.
  • Compensation will be $22,000 ($11,000/semester) and may include a tuition benefit* through the student’s academic department and determined by the graduate school.
  • The graduate research assistant must be enrolled full-time (9-12 credit hours) in a University of Utah graduate degree program for both semesters. An excellent academic record and a solid grounding in your study area are desired.
  • Graduate research assistants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the 2025-2026 academic year.
  • The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute is off-campus, near downtown Salt Lake City.

*The tuition benefit does not cover special fees or differential tuition. Other limitations may apply, and we encourage students to discuss those with their advisor. Please note that this position and tuition benefit are subject to approval by the graduate school, your academic department, and your acceptance into your chosen graduate program.

Please refer to the Career and Professional Development Center’s website for more information on how to format and write a compelling resume and cover letter when applying for student programs.

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now closed. Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will be posted in December 2025.

For more information, please contact: Ms. Shannon Simonsen, Research Coordinator, shannon.simonsen@utah.edu