Our group at the Institute for Defense Analyses intends to hire a new Research Staff Member sometime this year, and I want to bring the position to the attention of any grad students or postdocs in your department who might be finishing up around the Spring or Summer of 2006. 

We have officially posted the job description for the Undersea Warfare Analyst position on the IDA public web site at:  http://www.ida.org/IDAnew/Employment/positions/OED-UnderSea.html  The main www.ida.org site provides some general background about the Institute.

IDA is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) under contract with the Department of Defense. My division works for the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, who reports directly to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Congress on testing of new defense systems.  In the case of our undersea warfare programs (e.g., subs, sonars, torpedoes), an independent organization within the Navy runs the tests, but we at IDA are involved in the test design, we monitor the exercise, and then perform an independent analysis of the results.  Our job is to conduct an unbiased, scientific assessment of the system’s performance to ensure that the program sponsors are making informed decisions and Congress is aware of how their money is being spent.  Over the years, IDA analysis has played a vital role in identifying problems with major defense programs, allowing those deficiencies to be properly addressed.  

The RSM slot is a full-time, permanent position with a generous salary and benefits.  It is a great opportunity for someone who might wish to apply their analytical skills to this important area of national security.  We spend much of our time writing, briefing, and meeting with Navy and other defense personnel, so the position requires strong communication skills.  Since we deal with classified information, American citizenship and the ability to obtain security clearance are mandatory.  Moderate travel is involved, and the position offers a rare chance to ride aboard some of the Navy’s newest ships and submarines.  The IDA atmosphere is quite collegial and academic, with excellent facilities and support services.

While the job description mentions specific areas of technical and military experience as desirable, most of the training will be obtained on the job; a PhD student with a good analytical mind would be well qualified.  Of the approximately 100 analysts in our division, 60% have PhDs, primarily in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and operations research.  Over 20% of our staff came to IDA directly out of grad school or postdocs. 

Interested candidates are welcome to contact me directly via phone or email for additional information.
Thanks.

Steve Rabinowitz

Dr. Steven A. Rabinowitz
Institute for Defense Analyses
Operational Evaluation Division
4850 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA  22311-1882
(703) 845-6971
srabinow@ida.org