Program Associate, Research & Learning / Research Scientist

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of over 600 higher education institutions in more than 42 countries. SAR’s mission is to promote academic freedom and defend the human rights of scholars and their communities worldwide. SAR meets this mission through three primary activity areas: (1\) protection services for threatened scholars and other at\-risk individuals; (2\) advocacy and related research, reporting, and campaigning for scholars or other victims of attacks on higher education; and (3\) research and training on academic freedom and its constituent elements. In furtherance of all of these activities, SAR organizes multiple events, trainings, courses, and publications, including a biennial SAR Global Congress—an international gathering for SAR’s global movement and prospective new partners to share experience, discuss critical issues, and shape SAR’s research and advocacy strategies for the coming years. SAR’s staff is organized into teams for each of these programming areas, along with a membership team to research and develop services and activities for network member institutions, faculty and students, and related development and administration roles. Information at www.scholarsatrisk.org.

POSITION SUMMARY: Scholars at Risk (SAR) seeks a detail\-oriented, research\-focused individual with excellent organizational, analytical, and writing skills to join SAR’s Research \& Learning team as a Program Associate. The Program Associate will research, analyze, and write incident reports for SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project and other reports; contribute to the research, drafting, and publication of Research \& Learning reports including SAR’s annual Free to Think report; and support the Research \& Learning team administratively across implementation of its projects.

Within Research \& Learning, SAR conducts research and reporting on attacks on higher education in the United States and worldwide, which it translates into the annual Free to Think report and other topical reports. SAR also organizes regular cohorts of academics to further research on academic freedom as Academic Freedom Fellows. SAR seeks a Program Associate to contribute to these projects. The position requires excellent research, analysis, writing, and project management skills, as well as a practiced attention to detail and judgment. It is ideal for a proactive, thoughtful individual who takes initiative, enjoys the research process, has excellent writing skills, and likes to work on a small team. The position requires timely and professional communication, including with partners, SAR and NYU staff, academia, and the public. The role is based in Manhattan and in\-office work is required a minimum of 2\.5 days per week. This position reports to SAR’s Director of Research \& Learning.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES \& DUTIES:

Research, analyze, write incident reports for SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, which identifies and registers attacks on the higher education sector worldwide

• Using SAR’s research methodology, conduct research on attacks on higher education, as reported in open sources; and draft, edit, verify, and publish summary reports.
• Collaborate on efforts to assess project efficiency and propose and implement improvements, including assessing the project’s database, use of partner data, and AI.
• Ensure appropriate and timely distribution of the project’s incidents and key findings, including over social media, in newsletters, and in submissions to stakeholders.

Regularly share key incidents and trends with SAR staff and make recommendations as to appropriate responses.

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Research, analyze, write, and produce reports that highlight trends in attacks on higher education, and develop response tools

• Contribute to the research and writing process for SAR’s annual Free to Think report, drawing on Monitoring Project data.
• Liaise with communications staff for production and dissemination of Free to Think.
• Support research, writing, and production of other topical reports produced by SAR.
• Support development of training modules based on report recommendations, and of similar advocacy responses to the problem of attacks on higher education.

Present report data and recommendations to academic and general audiences.

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Support Research \& Learning project implementation

• Support implementation of SAR’s Academic Freedom fellowships, including organizing regular fellows’ meetings, commenting on research, and encouraging research on underfunded/understudied topics.

Across all Research \& Learning projects and reports, facilitate payments to consultants and vendors, manage team calendars, and support timely project implementation, including through use of project management tools.

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COMPENSATION \& BENEFITS: This is a full\-time, at\-will position on an open\-ended term, subject to p rogram priorities, exemplary performance, and availability of funds. The position offers a salary range of $55,000 \- 65,000, comparable to similar positions at peer organizations in the human rights/NGO field. Scholars at Risk is an independent not\-for\-profit corporation hosted at New York University (NYU). SAR staff are NYU employees seconded to SAR and are eligible for NYU employee benefits, including vacation leave and holidays; medical, dental, vision and life insurance options; and retirement b enefits (all subject to terms established by NYU as described at https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full time/professional\-research\-staff.html) .

• Undergraduate degree and 3\-5 years’ experience, or similar, relevant experience.
• Excellent research, writing, and editorial skills; demonstrated ability to synthesize and distill complex information for general audiences.
• E xceptional communication skills and proven proficiency in delivering impactful presentations.
• Exceptional attention to detail, initiative, time\-management, and problem\-solving abilities.
• Experience in report writing, production, distribution, and strategy preferred.
• Experience in project management, especially in managing competing priorities.
• Commitment to human rights, academic freedom, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience studying and/or monitoring human rights required; experience working on academic freedom a plus.
• Ability to manage complex political and cultural factors, difficult information, including human rights abuses, and tensions between long\- and short\-term goals.
• Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet software (e.g., Word/Google Docs, Excel/Sheets), website content management systems (e.g., WordPress). Experience in project management software (Asana, Trello, Monday) a plus.

APPLICATION REVIEW IS September 10, 2026 . Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until the position is filled. No phone calls or email inquiries, please.

Applicant must upload the requested materials in one combined PDF: (1\) a letter of interest, (2\) resume, (3\) list of references or letters of reference, and (4\) a brief, unedited writing sample.

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