Applied Research Fellow

Description

• The Decision Lab is an applied research and innovation firm that works with Fortune 500's and governements around the world to turn decision science into positive impact. Our work has been featured in places like the New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, HBR, etc. and products we've helped design are used by over a billion people.
• We’re also one of the largest applied behavioral science publications globally, with over 5M annual readers, focused on translating academic research into real-world impact.
• Finally, we collaborate with Academic Institutions (e.g. McGill, NYU, LSE, etc.) to publish peer-reviewed research in our focus areas
• We’re seeking late PhD-level Applied Research Interns to join us on a full-time basis. This role is designed for students whose internship or research placement is funded or sponsored by their university or an external academic program.
• This position is designed to expose you to both research and application, with the intended balance being approximately 40% consulting work and 60% research-focused work
• Remote-friendly, but prefer someone who can come to enjoy our Saint Henri office on the Canal!
• Length: 3-4 months

• Our collaboration with the World Bank – on incentive frameworks for knowledge-sharing
• Our work with Capital One – a study we did on helping Americans undo the effects of stress on financial decisions.
• Our insights – we are one of the largest publications in applied behavioral science
• Our biases – we provide resources for organizations to learn about how behavioral science works

What you'll be working on

• Conducting structured literature reviews and evidence syntheses
• Supporting experimental design, measurement strategies, and analysis plans
• Assisting with behavioral diagnostics and research frameworks
• Contributing to research notes, working papers, policy briefs, or public-facing research outputs
• Participating in internal research discussions and reviews
• Supporting applied research projects with public- and private-sector partners
• Translating research findings into practical insights and recommendations
• Assisting with research-backed reports, presentations, or briefings
• Observing how academic research is adapted for policy, organizational, or technological contexts

Qualifcations

• Current late stage PhD student in a relevant discipline (e.g., psychology, AI, economics, public policy, cognitive science, behavioral science, data science, or a related field)
• Familiarity with behavioral science concepts and methods, such as experimental design, causal inference, behavioral interventions, or decision-making research
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to engage with academic literature
• Clear written communication skills in English, particularly for research summaries and analytical writing
• Experience conducting literature reviews, research syntheses, or empirical analysis
• Ability to work independently on scoped research tasks while engaging collaboratively with a research team
• Ability & desire to leverage AI tools (e.g. Cursor, Claude Code, etc.) to accelerate coding & analysis work

• Exposure to applied research, policy analysis, or consulting-style work
• Familiarity with AI-related topics (e.g., human–AI interaction, algorithmic decision-making, misinformation, or responsible AI), though technical expertise is not required
• Interest in applied, policy-adjacent, or non-academic research career pathways
• We recognize that students come from diverse academic traditions. Candidates are not expected to meet every criterion to be considered a strong fit.

How to apply

• A short CV (1–2 pages) outlining your academic background and relevant experience
• A brief statement of interest (up to 200 words) describing:
• Your academic focus and current program
• Your interest in applied behavioral science research
• How this internship aligns with your training or career goals