RRI Welcomes Seven Bright Research Associates to Mentor Spring 2026 Intern Cohort
- Alejandro Ramos
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WARSAW, POLAND – February 4, 2026 —The Ramos Research Institute (RRI) has selected two Research Associates and five Junior Research Associates to lead RRI’s hands-on civic research for the Spring 2026 semester. RRI’s Managing Team hand-selected these Research Associates to propel RRI research forward with integrity and open-mindedness as the institute enters into its third year of nonprofit service.
These seven associates span the east to west coast with diverse educational backgrounds in data science, economics, social services, and public policy. Each of these associates will serve as mentors to our research assistants as they strive to produce a comprehensive, data-driven research project over the next four months.
Research Associates Amaya Gaines and Caidie Lin have proven themselves to be valuable members of the RRI research team. Caidie’s insight into social services and education has helped to center RRI research on the practical application of data to real world social issues. Caidie will lead the increasingly relevant research project on Immigration Enforcement, Family Precarity, and Child Well-Being.
Amaya will be working to assess how inequality shapes democratic life in regards to political participation and government responsiveness in her research project this semester. Amaya’s experience with mixed-method research has enhanced the accessibility of RRI research both within and beyond academic spheres.
“I was drawn to work at RRI because the Institute prioritizes research that is both rigorous and publicly engaged, resonating with academic, policy, and public audiences,” Amaya said. “The emphasis on accessible, civically minded research is especially important at a moment when trust in democratic institutions feels fragile.”
We are also pleased to welcome Marianna Ruggiero, Allison Labutin, Sophia Portillo, Varun Raju, and Shylyne Funke as Junior Research Associates for the Spring 2026 semester. We are proud to have 4 former Research Assistants stepping into this valuable leadership role.
Each of the Junior Research Associates have unique experience in the realm of public policy and share RRI’s commitment to promoting democracy through civic research. According to Marianna, who will be researching media propaganda this semester, civic research serves a critical role in informing the public during a time of rampant misinformation and polarization.
“I specifically chose to do research on news media because the heightened polarization in the country [leads] me to wonder how we can have functioning democratic institutions if citizens can't access objective news sources,” Marianna said. “Civic research is a form of civic participation and is essential for democracy.”
All seven associates are entrusted with the great responsibility of guiding a new generation of policy thinkers and research pioneers. We wish them well in their efforts to promote democracy through accessible, educational research while also building a collaborative environment for RRI interns.
For more information about the Ramos Research Institute and its research initiatives, please visit https://www.ramosresearchinstitute.org/research-associates or contact us at press@ramosresearchinstitute.org.
###
About the Ramos Research Institute:
The Ramos Research Institute (RRI) is an emerging research institution dedicated to original
research, polling, and policy analysis focused on addressing today’s most complex societal
challenges. Founded by Alejandro J. Ramos, RRI produces rigorous, relevant, and accessible
research across key areas including civic education and engagement, media literacy, democratic resilience and renewal, education policy, and the voting behavior of minority communities. Through evidence-based inquiry and public-facing scholarship, RRI seeks to generate insights that strengthen democratic culture and inform policy and practice.
Contact:
Nafisa Ruponty
Director of Public Relations
Ramos Research Institute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Social Media Links: