Jobs Available

All these positions are currently open. Listings are removed when jobs are filled.

Researcher

The Cato Institute seeks a researcher to support a campaign to educate the public and policymakers on the implications of biometric identification systems related to immigration policy reforms.

Sought-after qualifications include: familiarity with immigration policy and the immigration reform debate; understanding of information systems, possibly including identity systems; a relevant college education or its equivalent; and two to five years; experience in state and federal government policymaking and execution, such as legislation, regulation, procurement, and grant-making.

The tasks to be performed by the researcher include: filing Freedom of Information Act requests to discover and document ongoing developments; monitoring congressional appropriations that support elements of the various national ID programs; analyzing federal grant-making processes, grants, and grant recipients that support the programs; reporting on procurement actions that do the same; keeping tabs on Federal Register notices that reveal developments in national ID programs; monitoring actions on the state level to implement the REAL ID Act; monitoring actions on the state and federal level to expand E-Verify as an immigration enforcement tool; monitoring the government-contractor trade press in which plans and proposals for national ID work are revealed; and reporting on corporate promotion and sales efforts aimed at supporting a national ID.

Candidates must support Cato’s mission of promoting individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace.

Applicants should send their resume, cover letter, and writing samples to:

Jim Harper
Director of Information Policy Studies
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Fax (202) 842-3490
Email: jharper [at] cato [dot] org

Cato Institute Summer Post-Doctoral Fellowship Summer 2013

The Cato Institute, a non-partisan, non-profit think tank, is welcoming applications for the position of a summer post-doctoral fellow.

We are looking for completed Ph.D.s or advanced ABD students who have been accepted for teaching positions in the Fall of 2013. Length of fellowship would run roughly June to August, with flexibility depending upon the candidates. Fellowship would be located at Cato’s Washington DC location.

The objective of the Summer Post-Doc Fellowship is to encourage recent Ph.D.s to turn their dissertation research into policy-relevant publications that are accessible to the general public. Accordingly preference will be given to candidates whose research interests bear directly on current public policy questions.

Applications for all fields are welcomed. Those from Economics, Public Policy, Philosophy and History are particularly encouraged. Cato will pay fellows a stipend of $6,000 for the summer.

Interested applicants should submit CV and writing sample, by May 1st, to Dr. Mark Calabria, Cato Institute, mcalabria [at] cato [dot] org.

Policy Analyst, Telecommunications and Internet Governance

The Cato Institute seeks a policy analyst to work on telecommunications and Internet governance issues. The suitable candidate will have several years of work experience in the field of telecommunications and Internet law and policy. An advanced degree in law or economics is preferred

Sought-after qualifications include: familiarity with or practice before the Federal Communications Commission; familiarity with the technical and governance bodies of the Internet; familiarity with and/or work experience on Capitol Hill; a solid background in the First Amendment and other civil liberties; familiarity with classical liberal history and scholarship; strong analytical reasoning skills; the ability to simplify complex issues in oral and written communications; and good interpersonal skills. Responsibilities include monitoring developments in government regulation and oversight of telecommunications and Internet governance at all governmental levels; researching and writing on these topics in all formats (research papers, policy briefs, editorials, blogposts, etc.); and public speaking. Candidates must support Cato’s mission of promoting individual liberty, free markets and limited government.

Applicants should send their resume, cover letter, and writing samples to:

Jim Harper
Director of Information Policy Studies
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Fax (202) 842-3490
Email: jharper [at] cato [dot] org

State Budget Expert

The Cato Institute seeks to hire a budget expert to focus on state and local government tax and spending policies.

The budget expert would critique the budget policies of state and local lawmakers through policy studies, op-eds, books, blogposts, and media appearances. He or she would commission research from outside scholars, participate in panel discussions, and give speeches discussing problems with current budget policies and possible reforms. Candidates for the position should have strong research, writing, and communication skills, and a strong commitment to the principles of individual liberty and economic freedom. Advanced degree in economics or public policy preferred. Compensation and title will be commensurate with ability and experience.

Applicants should send their resume, cover letter, and writing samples to:

Chris Edwards
Director of Tax Policy Studies
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Fax (202) 842-3490
Email: cedwards [at] cato [dot] org

Legal Associate Program

Use Your JD to Work for Liberty!

Many law firms are asking their incoming first-year associates to defer their start dates and are offering stipends for these associates to work at public interest organizations. Some law schools are also offering their graduates funding for a number of months under similar conditions. And plenty of new law grads are looking to get their feet in the DC policy door.

To that end, the Cato Institute invites graduating law students and law school graduates to work at our Center for Constitutional Studies. This is an opportunity to assist projects ranging from Supreme Court amicus briefs to policy papers to the Cato Supreme Court Review. Interested students and graduates should email a cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample, along with any specific details of their circumstances (availability, deferral terms/stipend, etc.), to Jonathan Blanks, jblanks [at] cato [dot] org.

If you don’t have your own firm/school funding and cannot work unpaid, please apply to our highly competitive internship program (see directly below for short description and application instructions). Legal associates accepted through our internship program receive double the normal intern stipend and are responsible for all normal intern duties on top of responsibilities for the Center for Constitutional Studies.

Jonathan Blanks
Center for Constitutional Studies
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Email: jblanks [at] cato [dot] org

Intern

The Cato Institute is seeking interns for the summer, fall and spring terms. Responsibilities include research assistance to Cato’s policy directors, assisting at Cato events, some clerical chores, attendance at Cato events, and weekly seminars and readings. Candidates should be undergraduates, regardless of major, recent graduates, or graduate students who have a strong commitment to individual liberty, private property, free markets, peace, toleration, and limited government. The monthly stipend is $700 paid in two monthly installments. Information on the program is available online. If you require additional information, please e-mail intern [at] cato [dot] org.

[ For additional information on employment opportunities with free market organizations, see job banks at Institute for Humane Studies.]

Cato Calls for Papers

The Cato Institute seeks papers and proposals on a wide range of policy issues. The Institute’s publications include books, the Cato Journal, Regulation Magazine, Cato Policy Report, and the Policy Analysis, Briefing Papers, Foreign Policy Briefings, and Social Security Choice series. A review of the documents at www.cato.org should give you an idea of the subjects that interest us and the style and tone appropriate for policy studies.

Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced, preferably in 12-pitch or pica, on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Leave extra space around the title and byline. Margins on all four sides of the page should be at least 1 inch.

Notes should be done per the Chicago Manual of Style (Style A). They may be typed at the bottom of each page or preferably at the end of the manuscript. Notes should be double-spaced.

Please send hard copy: At this time, Cato does not accept submissions by fax or email. Manuscripts will be returned if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is enclosed.

Send proposals or papers to Submissions Editor, Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20001.