TARCO Institute for Real Estate & Entrepreneurship

Babson College

Job Description — Research Intern

Position Title

Research Intern, TARCO Institute for Real Estate & Entrepreneurship

Reports To

Tina P. Brzezenski, TARCO Institute for Real Estate & Entrepreneurship

Location

Babson College, Wellesley, MA (hybrid — on-campus meetings required)

Employment Type

Part-time, paid hourly student position

Time Commitment

10–12 hours per week for one academic semester (~14 weeks)

Compensation

Hourly, per Babson Student Employment Program pay scale [rate TBD]

Term

One semester [start/end dates TBD]; potential to renew based on performance and Institute needs

Institute Overview

TARCO is a new institute being built at Babson College to become the global hub for Real Estate Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Lifelong Learning. Leveraging Babson’s worldwide leadership in entrepreneurship, family enterprise, franchising, and executive education, TARCO will prepare a new generation of leaders who can identify opportunities, navigate complexity, drive innovation, and create value across the real estate industry. The goal over the next five years is to establish Babson as the #1 real estate program in the country.

Position Summary

The Research Intern will play a foundational role in launching TARCO by conducting the market, competitive, and industry research needed to shape the Institute’s strategy, curriculum, industry partnerships, and Year-One programming. This is a high-visibility opportunity to help build a new institute from the ground up, working directly with the Institute’s founder and gaining direct exposure to the commercial real estate industry, its leading organizations, and its professional credentialing pathways.

Key Responsibilities

1. Industry Landscape Mapping

• Research and catalog leading real estate organizations, associations, and trade groups in the U.S. and internationally (e.g., ULI, NAIOP, ICSC, CCIM Institute, IREM, BOMA, RICS, CREW Network).

• Organize findings into a searchable directory noting each organization’s focus area, membership structure, and relevance to TARCO.

2. Competitive Program & Rankings Research

• Identify top-ranked undergraduate and graduate real estate programs in the U.S.

• Research the methodology behind major rankings (e.g., U.S. News, Poets&Quants) and document exactly what criteria drive them.

• Benchmark Babson’s current position and flag the specific levers TARCO could move to improve it.

3. Conference & Event Opportunities

• Identify organizations that host real estate conferences, summits, or day events that could be brought to Babson to raise the Institute’s visibility.

• Summarize each opportunity’s audience, cost, logistics, and fit with TARCO’s mission.

4. Professional Network & Committee Mapping

• Identify industry associations, advisory boards, and committees that TARCO leadership should join to build credibility and relationships.

• Document membership requirements, costs, and the process/timeline for joining each.

5. Certification Pathway Research

• Research leading real estate professional certifications (e.g., CCIM, IREM’s CPM/ARM, BOMA’s RPA/FMA, SIOR, CRE, LEED).

• For each credential, document the number of levels/courses, time to completion, total cost, exam and experience requirements, and continuing education/renewal obligations.

6. Year-One Launch Support

• Provide research and logistical support toward TARCO’s Year-One deliverables, including the signature experiential learning program, student-facing industry events, the Real Estate Entrepreneurship Accelerator pilot, and alumni/industry engagement efforts.

• Help translate research findings into a scalable framework for future curriculum, certifications, and lifelong learning initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Currently enrolled Babson College undergraduate or graduate student.

• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills; comfortable synthesizing information from many sources into clear summaries.

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint (or equivalent).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Self-directed, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple concurrent research tracks.

Preferred

• Coursework or demonstrated interest in real estate, finance, entrepreneurship, or hospitality.

• Interest in pursuing a career in real estate, real estate investment, or a related field.

What the Intern Will Gain

• Direct mentorship from the founder of a new Babson institute and firsthand experience building an academic program from the ground up.

• A comprehensive view of the real estate industry’s organizations, credentialing paths, and events landscape.

• Early exposure to and relationships with real estate industry associations and potential employers.

• A resume-ready portfolio of research deliverables supporting a strategic institutional launch.

To Apply

Interested students should submit a resume and brief statement of interest to Tina P. Brzezenski, TARCO Institute for Real Estate & Entrepreneurship.