Undergraduate Research Fellow

Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. As a Research Fellow, you are a vital part of ADF’s Research & Innovation team, which exists to anticipate legal and cultural threats, generate consequential scholarship, and translate ideas into litigation, legislation, and cultural influence.
In this role, you will report to and support an assigned Senior Fellow in carrying out a dedicated research portfolio within of the team’s strategic focus areas, which include but are not limited to artificial intelligence and freedom of speech and religion; online child safety and free speech; and religious liberty and, public institutions. You will work under the direction of the Senior Counsel and Vice President for Research & Policy Innovation, and the Special Counsel to the President.
Research Support
Conduct legal, policy, and interdisciplinary research in support of your assigned Senior Fellow’s focus area, using both AI-assisted horizon-scanning tools and traditional research methods.
Monitor legislative, regulatory, judicial, and cultural developments relevant to the team’s strategic focus areas and prepare timely summaries and briefing materials.
Assist in researching and drafting model legislation, regulatory comments, suggestions for amicus briefs, policy papers, and white papers under the direction of the Senior Fellow.
Writing & Editorial Support
Draft, edit, and prepare written work products in support of the Senior Fellow’s scholarship, including research memoranda, background papers, annotated bibliographies, and first drafts.
Ensure accuracy of citations, sources, and factual claims in all work products.
Assist in planning and executing colloquia, symposia, pop-up salons, and strategic gatherings organized by the Senior Fellow, including logistics, participant coordination, background preparation, and post-event documentation.
Prepare briefing materials, speaker profiles, and research summaries in advance of external engagements, media appearances, and speaking events.
Support alliance-building activities by conducting background research on potential partners, institutions, and policy leaders.
Collaborate with other Research Fellows and team members across the ADF ministry to share research findings and support cross-team initiatives.
Assist in maintaining ADF’s knowledge management systems and research infrastructure.
D. or advanced graduate degree (M.A., or equivalent) in policy, theology, history, philosophy, political science, or a closely related field is strongly preferred; candidates with a strong undergraduate record and demonstrated research excellence may be considered.
~Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.
This range is a good‑faith estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and office location.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe God creates each person with an immutable biological sex — male or female — that reflects the image and likeness of God.
We believe God designed marriage as a unique conjugal relationship joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, life-long union, and God intends sexual intimacy only to occur within that relationship.
We believe that God has endowed all humans with the natural, and inalienable right of religious freedom to believe, pursue truth, and live within ordered liberty such that no civil government may justly infringe upon it.