Science & Technology (S&T) Evaluation Intern

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach-one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

The Center for Innovation and Applied Economics works at the intersection of innovation, policy, and evidence-partnering with foundations, NGOs, universities, commercial firms, and government agencies to design and carry out evaluations of S&T programs and portfolios. Example client environments include (but are not limited to) science-funding and mission agencies such as NSF, NASA, and NIH, as well as philanthropic and nonprofit organizations advancing research, health, and technology adoption.

CIAE performs analyses and research to provide intelligence for a variety of client needs, from informing new product or market development efforts to identifying new manufacturing capabilities or practices. The team also provides research and analysis to identify commercialization opportunities for technologies that are developed by government laboratories and corporations.

RTI International's Center for Innovation and Advanced Evaluation (CIAE) is seeking a paid, virtualScience & Technology (S&T) Evaluation Internto support research and evaluation projects that help funders and public-sector organizations understand what works in science and technology investments.

The S&T Evaluation Intern will be mentored by CIAE researchers and evaluators and will contribute to projects that assess innovation and research outcomes, implementation, and impact. Work may include literature and document review, qualitative data collection and analysis, synthesis of evidence for clients, and select quantitative tasks (e.g., descriptive analyses, basic data cleaning, and indicator tracking) depending on project needs and the intern's skills.Interns may provide basic research support for CIAE's portfolio of technology innovation consulting projects, which relate to market research and commercialization of new technologies.

Responsibilities:

• Support evaluation projects of science, technology, and innovation programs (e.g., research centers, grant programs, technology translation initiatives, and capacity-building efforts)
• Conduct literature reviews and document analyses (e.g., proposals, annual reports, strategic plans, and program documentation) to inform evaluation design and findings
• Assist with qualitative data collection and analysis (e.g., interview protocols, note-taking, coding, synthesis of themes) and contribute to development of findings and recommendations
• Support light quantitative work as needed (e.g., descriptive statistics, simple visual summaries, tracking outputs/outcomes indicators, basic bibliometric or portfolio data organization)
• Draft and edit clear client-ready deliverables (briefs, slide content, data summaries) and contribute to internal knowledge building on innovation and impact assessment methods

Learning Objective:

• CIAE interns will gain exposure to applied evaluation in science and technology policy contexts and will work with a multidisciplinary team supporting clients that promote and further science and technology (including health-focused and government/non-governmental initiatives).
• CIAE interns will learn how to conduct evaluation research and how to assess innovation and research outcomes, implementation, and impact.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled or a recent degree recipient in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university.
• All academic disciplines are welcome; coursework or experience in public policy, economics, public administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Strong qualitative research skills (e.g., interview methods, thematic synthesis, and clear writing); comfort with some quantitative analysis is an asset.
• Exceptional written and oral communication, time management, and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in innovation, impact assessment, and evaluation of science and technology programs (including health-related research and technology initiatives)
• Experience with evaluation, applied research, or policy analysis (e.g., program evaluation coursework, research assistantships, consulting projects, or applied internships).
• Comfort working with ambiguity and learning new subject matter quickly across diverse S&T domains.
• Ability to organize and synthesize evidence into clear takeaways; experience with tools such as Excel, R, Stata, Python, NVivo, or similar is a plus interest in leveraging AI-enabled research tools strategically and responsibly.

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is availablehere.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.