Working in Quasi-Governmental Research

Abstract

In addition to working at all levels of government or adding to the ranks of consultants, your options include the world of quasi-governmental research – helping the government understand the emerging challenges and opportunities affecting many aspects of life in the United States: education, technology, national defense, government reform, environmental science, hydrology, and more. Termed federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), national labs (NL), and university-affiliated research centers (UARCs), these long-term contracts are hosted within a nonprofit or university setting where research is conducted to inform government policy. The quantitative social scientist is a vital contributor to this work, and while the day-to-day work can resemble an academic environment, the researcher or analyst (or physical scientist, organizational psychologist, etc.) is challenged to help advance the public interest. This chapter focuses on the author’s affiliation with several FFRDCs and addresses the background for these organizations, what daily life is like, and how the individual’s and organization’s performance are assessed.