Research Fellow, East Asia Program

The Quincy Institute (QI) seeks a research fellow with a high degree of expertise in Chinese military and national security policy to join its East Asia Program. The expert’s key responsibility is to produce a significant volume of original analysis and public communication on US policy toward China and East Asia, including research papers, policy proposals, op-eds, and media engagement. The overriding aim is to advance QI’s mission of moving US national security strategy toward diplomatic engagement and military restraint.

This position entails promoting QI’s work among decision-makers and contributing expert commentary to various media outlets. The Research Fellow will respond to events of the day with rapid analysis to frame the media narrative. The research fellow will also build or maintain strong connections with the relevant policy and media communities.

• Help build a cohesive, rational, and strategic response to challenges in the realms of US security and military policy vis-à-vis China, with the goal of reshaping the parameters of debate around US foreign policy
• In collaboration with other team members, develop concrete foreign policy proposals aligned with the grand strategy of Restraint and build support for those positions through a high level of original scholarship, policy analyses, opinion columns, talking points, and other materials for public dissemination
• Use knowledge from the program’s research and Congress’s legislative agenda to effectively influence policy. Connect QI’s work to relevant scholars and activists
• Have or develop strong relations in the relevant policy community, including the Defense and State Departments and National Security Council and on Capitol Hill, and promote QI’s work and agenda among decision-makers
• Work with communications colleagues to develop positions quickly on issues of the day to benefit from a first-mover’s advantage in framing the policy and media narrative; provide expert commentary and represent QI in the media
• Organize and lead panels, roundtables, study groups, and workshops at QI
• Support and brief leadership as needed
• Direct and coordinate research assistants and interns to support output

• PhD preferred
• Minimum of three years as an academic or policymaker, preferably at a university, think tank, nonprofit, or government
• Competence in Mandarin required
• Demonstrated familiarity with the US foreign policy landscape and a strong record of scholarship or policy work in the fields of IR/security studies, modern East Asian diplomatic/military history, or other relevant areas
• Strong understanding of and commitment to the principles of a US foreign policy based on the IR theory of Restraint
• Experience representing an organization and its agenda to high-level and public audiences

• Ability to produce detailed, original analytical reports on military and national security policies in East Asia, with a focus on China and/or China’s security relations with other major states
• Exceptional, clear, and compelling writing and strong editing skills
• Ability to translate foreign policy concepts into clear and engaging content
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills and comfort working within a small team in a start-up environment
• Ability to speak and write knowledgeably and comfortably about public policy research and findings to news media; and key partners, including state, local, and federal policymakers, as well as general audiences
• Ability to conceive and lead projects and complete them on time, on budget, and with attention to detail
• A high level of energy, commitment, and enthusiasm for the Quincy Institute’s mission, program, and goals

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume or CV, and three writing samples demonstrating different forms of communication (scholarly, expert media, popular media). The deadline for applying is now Friday, November 15th, where top candidates will be reviewed and contacted within the following week.