Apply for the JA Institute Research Fellowship 2025 at JA Worldwide. Paid remote Fellowship (10–20 hrs/week) for Master’s and PhD-level researchers in youth, education, and future-of-work studies. Rolling deadline; apply by email.

About the JA Institute Research Fellowship

The JA Institute Research Fellowship is a paid, remote Program hosted by JA Worldwide, one of the world’s largest and most impactful youth-serving NGOs. Through the JA Institute program, emerging scholars contribute to applied research and thought leadership that advances youth entrepreneurship, employability, economic empowerment, and future skills. JA Worldwide reaches over 19 million young people annually and operates across 100,000+ schools, supported by 700,000 teachers and volunteers, offering an unparalleled global context for rigorous, policy-relevant research. Learn more about the JA Institute’s mission and focus areas at ja.institute.

Note: This is a Fellowship with competitive compensation; it is not a tuition “fully funded” academic scholarship. You will be paid for your work while contributing to global impact.

Role and Responsibilities

As a Fellowship participant, the Research Fellow will design and implement projects across the JA Institute’s four impact focus areas—Youth Entrepreneurship, Economic Empowerment, Employability & Tech Readiness, and Educating for Future Skills. Core responsibilities include:

• Managing end-to-end research projects aligned with the Fellowship scope and timeline.

• Conducting quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods analyses using regional and global datasets.

• Designing and piloting survey instruments for program evaluations.

• Cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data in R, Python, or Stata, and translating findings into clear, actionable insights.

• Producing working papers, policy briefs, blog posts, and op-eds under the Fellowship.

• Building dashboards and maintaining strong ethics, data governance, and quality-assurance protocols.

• Coordinating cross-country stakeholders and presenting results to JA leadership, funders, and regional teams.

Required and Desired Qualifications

Required:

• Enrolled in or recently completed a Master’s or DPhil/PhD in economics, education, data science, international development, public policy, or related fields

• Proven experience in applied research or policy evaluation

• Excellent writing skills and ability to manage multiple priorities remotely

• Strong interest in at least one of the JA Institute focus areas

Desired:

• Experience with youth-focused programmes (education, entrepreneurship, employment)

• Familiarity with development/labour economics or education innovation

• Experience with NLP/AI tools or advanced analytics

• Prior publication or blog-writing in academic/think-tank/policy contexts

• Cross-cultural awareness and collaboration with global teams

Why Join This Fellowship

This Fellowship offers:

• Purposeful work: Generate insights that influence policy, philanthropy, and education practice at scale

• Thought leadership: Shape global discourse at the intersection of education, employment, and technology

• Global network: Collaborate with JA’s 100+ country offices and international partners

• Flexibility: Remote Fellowship with 10–20 hours per week

• Mentorship: Access to the JA Institute Research Advisory Council and senior researchers

Explore JA’s impact and scale via the organization’s Impact Report.

Location, Commitment, and Compensation

• Location: Remote Fellowship

• Commitment: Flexible, typically 10–20 hours per week

• Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with related research work

• Start date: Rolling Fellowship; positions open until filled

How to Apply

Prepare the following and submit by email (subject line exactly as below):

• Brief cover letter (≤500 words) describing fit and interest

• CV or résumé

• Relevant writing sample (research paper, policy brief, or blog post)

• (Optional) Link to portfolio, GitHub, or research profile

Apply by Email:
Send application to institute@jaworldwide.org

Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submissions are encouraged.

About JA Worldwide

Recognized among the world’s top NGOs and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recent years, JA Worldwidedelivers hands-on learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health to millions of students annually through a global network of educators and business volunteers.

Apply Now
Email your application for the JA Institute Research Fellowship

For more international career opportunities, visit Opportunities For Youth.