The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division (FDT) is seeking three limited-term Research Assistants to support a broad range of research tasks in three distinct sections in FDT. The relevant sections are Foreign Policy Management & Global Issues; Middle East & Africa; and Asia. The selectees will support research analysts and managers in addressing congressional requests for information and analysis by performing research, data analysis, writing, and other research support duties as assigned by section and division management.

Ideal applicants will have experience conducting research in one or more of the following areas, as well as some knowledge of the legislative and policy contexts, institutional dimensions, and policy tools related to such issues:

• Foreign policy, including global trends and transnational issues.
• Regional foreign policy issues pertaining to the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Regional foreign policy issues pertaining to the Asia-Pacific region, including South Asia.

Successful candidates must be able to work as part of a collaborative team and must exhibit the intellectual flexibility and broad research skill set that facilitate effective work across a wide issue spectrum beyond the applicant’s research focus or concentration.

Strong research, writing, and presentation skills are essential; candidates with both qualitative and quantitative research skills, and experience using data visualization to inform research products and processes, are especially urged to apply. CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for more than a century. CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation’s best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.