Research Assistant II – William Davidson Institute

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Overview: This short-term, full-time, hybrid position is available immediately. The successful candidate will begin work by early May 2025, and be located in the Ann Arbor area during this employment (through July 2025, possibly longer). This opening is a new addition to the WDI staff working with both WDI’s Energy & Mobility team and a new focus: Venture Studio and Clean Tech.

Roles/Responsibilities for Venture Studios & Clean Tech (approx 15 hours/week):

1. Conduct secondary landscape analyses of venture studios in emerging markets (e.g., Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America)
2. Map clean tech impact investment funds operating in emerging markets
3. Identify trends, case studies, and comparative models across different regions
4. Analyze market gaps, systemic challenges, and innovation opportunities for venture studios and impact funds
5. Synthesize findings into an Excel spreadsheet and a slide deck
6. Contribute to the development of a high-impact pitch deck and thought leadership for defined target audience

Roles/Responsibilities for Energy and Mobility (approx 25 hours/week):

1. Conduct desk research (aka: secondary research) and analysis on business and policy topics related to energy and electric mobility, among other topics, to support select research projects
2. Support data analysis (qualitative and quantitative) and create visualizations for select WDI energy/mobility research projects
3. Support the development of presentations, articles, and reports, including visual/graphic design of documents and drafting content
4. As relevant, participate in interviews or meetings with external stakeholders
5. Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

1. Academic or professional experience in energy and/or mobility, as well as background in finance, business, economics, or international development
2. Experience conducting market landscaping, sector mapping, or investment ecosystem research
3. Proficient in MS Office, Google Workspace, A.I., and Canva
4. Self-starter with good critical thinking skills, able to work independently within a lean team and bring an entrepreneurial mindset
5. Strong desk research and data analytical skills with the ability to synthesize and visualize large volumes of information into insights
6. Superior English written communication skills
7. Must reside in the SE Michigan area during this employment due to hybrid work
8. Authorized to work full-time lawfully in the USA for WDI. Note: This role is not approved for “sponsorship” related to employment-based visa status.
9. Must apply using WDI’s online Employment Application linked below.

Desired Qualifications: 

1. Experience using Tableau and/or other data visualization software
2. Academic or professional experience with consulting for private sector or non-profit clients
3. Familiarity with venture capital, impact investing, climate innovation, or entrepreneurship ecosystems in emerging markets
4. Proficiency in Spanish