Hourihan directed the R&D Budget and Policy Program for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where he was a recognized expert in research investment policy and trends for over a decade and a relied-upon analyst among the science community and policymakers. His analysis and commentary was also featured in a range of major media including the Wall Street Journal, Science, Nature, The Atlantic, Forbes, The Hill, Politico, Scientific American, Eos, Vox, Bloomberg, and elsewhere.
His previous positions include serving as a clean energy policy analyst at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), where he focused on policy to accelerate energy innovation, and as Jan Schori Fellow at the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, a coalition of energy firms and utilities working to engage policymakers on energy and climate policy.