Research Analyst (Infrastructure Development)

Research Analyst– Infrastructure & Development (Kenya Focus)

(Internship / Analyst Program)

Location: Remote

Work Format: Deliverable-based, flexible scheduling

Position Type: Internship / Analyst Program

Classification: Temporary / Seasonal

Program Duration: 8–12 weeks (aligned with academic term schedules and student availability)

Role Overview

Morsby, Gorman, McCarthy LLC is seeking Research Analysts to support Kenya-focused infrastructure and development initiatives through structured research, source collection, document review, and analytical support.

This role is part of a Kenya-focused pilot initiative within a broader global infrastructure program. The purpose of the role is to support the identification, collection, organization, and interpretation of relevant source materials that inform strategic analysis, planning, and project development across multiple sectors.

The Research Analyst position is designed for candidates who are interested in developing applied research experience in a real-world setting. Participants will work with a wide range of materials, including government reports, development finance institution publications, international organization documents, sector reports, policy papers, corporate materials, and other relevant sources. The work produced through this role will contribute to broader project development efforts, including internal knowledge building, analytical synthesis, and support for structured written outputs such as briefing materials and white papers.

This role is intended to function as a foundational research position within a multi-disciplinary project environment. Research Analysts will help build the source base and information architecture that other team members rely on across data, strategy, communications, and business development functions.

Participants will work under structured guidance with defined deliverables, regular feedback, and mentorship throughout the program. This role is structured to align with academic learning objectives and is intended to complement coursework and applied study.

Core Purpose of the Role

The core purpose of this role is to support the research and source development needs of Kenya-focused infrastructure and development projects by:

• Identifying relevant and credible materials across multiple sectors and institutions
• Organizing and structuring research inputs for downstream use
• Supporting the extraction of key insights from large volumes of documents
• Assisting in the creation of a strong evidentiary foundation for broader analytical and written outputs
• Contributing to a multi-disciplinary workflow that connects research, data, strategy, communications, and implementation planning

This role is educational in nature and designed to help participants strengthen their ability to conduct structured research, interpret complex source materials, and translate academic or technical information into organized and usable project inputs.

Key Responsibilities

Research Analysts may contribute to a range of activities, including but not limited to the following:

• Assist in identifying, locating, and collecting relevant source materials related to infrastructure and development in Kenya
• Support research across sectors such as transportation, energy, logistics, agriculture, economic development, public-private partnership structures, institutional development, and related areas
• Review and organize source materials from governments, international organizations, development finance institutions, corporate publications, and other credible entities
• Assist in categorizing, labeling, and structuring research materials for internal team use
• Support the creation of organized research inventories and source libraries
• Participate in summarizing key findings from reports, policy documents, and technical materials
• Assist in extracting relevant data points, thematic insights, and contextual information from source documents
• Help flag useful materials for downstream use by strategy, business development, data, and communications team members
• Support the preparation of short research summaries, briefing notes, and organized source memos
• Engage in collaborative workflows with other team members to ensure that collected information is usable and aligned with broader project objectives
• Assist with maintaining consistency, structure, and organization across research outputs and document tracking systems

Depending on team needs and candidate strength areas, participants may also contribute to more advanced analytical support over time.

Nature of the Work

This is a structured research-focused internship role designed to provide practical exposure to how large-scale projects are informed by evidence, source material, and institutional research.

The role is not limited to academic-style literature review. Instead, participants will gain exposure to applied project research, including:

• Working with real-world government and institutional documents
• Understanding how source quality and credibility affect project planning
• Learning how raw information is translated into structured inputs for strategic decision-making
• Contributing to a collaborative environment in which research supports broader analytical and operational outputs

The work may involve both independent assignments and collaboration with other participants or team leads, depending on task type and project phase.

Qualifications

Candidates for this role should ideally demonstrate the following:

• Strong interest in research, analysis, and structured problem-solving
• Ability to read, interpret, and organize information from complex documents
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain organized outputs
• Clear written communication skills
• Ability to work independently while following structure and guidance
• Strong time management and reliability
• Comfort working with multiple source types, including PDFs, reports, and formal institutional materials
• Ability to synthesize information into concise and usable outputs
• Willingness to learn and operate within a multi-disciplinary team environment

Prior formal internship experience is not required if the candidate demonstrates strong academic, analytical, or organizational ability.

Preferred Academic Backgrounds / Majors

This role may be particularly well suited to students or early-career individuals from backgrounds such as:

• Economics
• Business Administration
• Finance
• International Relations / International Affairs
• Public Policy
• Political Science
• Development Studies
• International Development
• Data Analytics / Data Science
• Urban Planning
• Geography
• Related analytical, policy, business, or research-oriented disciplines

Candidates from adjacent fields with strong research ability are also encouraged to apply.

Nice to Have

The following are not required, but may strengthen a candidate’s fit for the role:

• Experience conducting academic, applied, or policy research
• Familiarity with working through long-form reports or institutional documents
• Coursework or experience related to infrastructure, development, economics, policy, or international affairs
• Experience summarizing information for others
• Strong academic writing or analytical writing experience
• Familiarity with Excel, Google Sheets, or document organization workflows
• Interest in global development, infrastructure strategy, public-private partnerships, or cross-border advisory work

Preferred Candidate Level

This role is intended to be accessible to strong candidates across multiple academic stages while remaining aligned with the structure of the program.

Preferred candidate levels include:

• Sophomore and Junior students preferred
• Junior, Senior, and Graduate students considered for more advanced research responsibilities
• Exceptional Freshman candidates with strong academic performance, writing ability, research aptitude, or demonstrated initiative may be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Strong candidates at any level with relevant skills and interest are encouraged to apply

Who This Role Is Best For

This role is likely to be a strong fit for:

• Students interested in research, analysis, development, or advisory work
• Individuals who enjoy working with structured information and source materials
• Candidates interested in learning how evidence and documentation support real-world project development
• Students seeking applied experience beyond the classroom
• Individuals who are detail-oriented, curious, and capable of handling complex reading and organizational tasks
• Candidates who want exposure to infrastructure, development, policy, and cross-functional project work
• Individuals interested in contributing to a structured, long-term initiative with growth potential

Program Structure & Time Commitment

This internship is designed to be structured, temporary, and aligned with academic schedules.

Program Duration

• 8–12 weeks, aligned with academic term schedules and candidate availability

Time Commitment

• Approximately 5–15 hours per week during the academic term
• Increased availability may be helpful during academic breaks where applicable
• Flexible scheduling is intended to accommodate coursework, exams, and academic responsibilities

Extension Possibility

• Extensions may be considered based on performance, project needs, and academic term alignment
• Continued involvement beyond the initial internship period may be discussed with high-performing participants, but the internship itself is structured as a temporary educational experience

Compensation

This is an unpaid, educational internship designed for academic and professional development.

The role is structured to provide experiential learning, mentorship, applied project exposure, and skill development. It is not intended to function as a substitute for paid employment.

Educational & Academic Credit Framework

This role is designed as a structured, educational experience intended to provide hands-on exposure to real-world projects. Participants will receive guidance, defined responsibilities, and mentorship throughout their involvement.

This position is intended to complement academic and professional development and does not replace the work of paid employees.

This role may be eligible for academic credit, depending on the candidate’s university requirements. Participants are responsible for coordinating with their institution to obtain approval where applicable.

Where a student’s institution permits internship credit, the firm may provide reasonable role documentation and supervision confirmation consistent with program structure and availability.

Learning Outcomes

By participating in this program, candidates can expect to:

• Develop structured research and information-gathering skills in a real-world project environment
• Strengthen their ability to review, organize, and interpret formal source materials
• Build experience working with government, institutional, and industry documentation
• Improve their ability to synthesize large volumes of information into organized and usable outputs
• Gain practical exposure to infrastructure and development-related research workflows
• Learn how research inputs feed broader analytical, strategic, and written deliverables
• Strengthen attention to detail, project organization, and collaborative communication
• Gain experience operating within a structured, multi-disciplinary team environment

These learning outcomes are intended to support both academic development and early-stage professional growth.

Supervision & Program Structure

Participants will work under the guidance of a designated supervisor and within a structured team environment. Responsibilities, expectations, and workflows will be clearly defined to support a consistent, organized, and educational experience.

Participants may receive:

• Defined research assignments
• Guidance on scope and research priorities
• Direction on source types and quality standards
• Structured feedback on outputs
• Ongoing coordination with project leads or designated team members

The internship is designed to provide professional exposure while maintaining clear structure and oversight.

Feedback & Evaluation

Participants will receive periodic feedback and guidance throughout the program to support skill development and performance improvement.

Feedback may address areas such as:

• Research quality
• Source relevance
• Organization and clarity of outputs
• Attention to detail
• Communication and follow-through
• Ability to incorporate feedback into future work

The goal of this feedback process is to support candidate development, strengthen performance, and help participants gain practical professional experience in a structured setting.

What You’ll Gain

Participants in this role may gain:

• Experience conducting applied research for real-world infrastructure and development initiatives
• Exposure to high-value source materials from governments, international institutions, and industry stakeholders
• Development of structured analytical and research skills
• Experience working with complex, multi-sector information in a professional environment
• Exposure to how research supports strategy, planning, and written project outputs
• Mentorship and structured professional feedback
• Experience contributing to a multi-disciplinary project team with real deliverables
• Early-stage exposure to infrastructure, development, policy, and advisory workflows

Growth Opportunities

High-performing participants may be considered for expanded responsibilities, continued involvement in active initiatives, and participation in select project-based opportunities.

Top performers may also be considered for long-term or full-time roles, including potential involvement in future initiatives as the organization expands.

Where appropriate, participants who demonstrate particularly strong performance may also be considered for broader cross-functional work depending on project needs and role fit.

Application Instructions

Apply via Handshake or submit your resume and a brief statement of interest to careers@mgmgd.com.

The statement of interest should briefly address:

• Why you are interested in the role
• Any relevant experience, coursework, or skills
• What you hope to gain from the program

Applications that include a clear and thoughtful statement of interest will be prioritized.

Summary Positioning Statement

This role is intended to function as a structured, educational, research-focused internship that provides practical exposure to real-world infrastructure and development work. It is designed to support student learning, academic development, and professional growth through guided participation in applied project research.