Research Specialst

Department

SSD: Economics - Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department

For over a century, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics has been recognized as one of the world's leading centers for economic research and education. The Department's faculty have received numerous awards, including more Nobel Prize laureates and John Bates Clark medalists in economics than any other university. Among our faculty are many members of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Econometric Society.

Job Summary

Directly reporting to Professor Christina Brown, the Research Specialist is a part of the vibrant research environment of the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. The Research Specialist will assist with development economics research projects focused on labor markets and/or education and health. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who thrives working both independently, with minimal supervision, and as a part of small research teams, juggling multiple projects concurrently. The Research Specialist's responsibilities will span all stages of research, including writing and administering surveys, cleaning and organizing data, conducting statistical analyses, running simulations, and preparing manuscripts and presentations. This position offers a hybrid schedule of on-campus and remote workdays and a commitment of one year with the possibility of renewal.

Responsibilities

• Supports the Principal Investigators (PIs) in the implementation of development economics research, including randomized control trials in South Asia. Collaborate with research teams on the university campus and abroad.
• Handles the cleaning and management of complex data collected from various sources. Maintains a high standard of data quality through rigorous application of high-frequency checks on the incoming data.
• Applies advanced statistical techniques and coding skills to interpret data and analyze results. Delivers insightful and timely reports to support decision-making regarding the ongoing projects.
• Takes on the responsibility of managing Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions and modifications, ensuring that all research activities adhere to institutional, state, and federal ethical and regulatory standards.
• Plays a pivotal role in preparing, developing, and coding survey instruments, ensuring they are well-structured and aligned with the research objectives.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens. Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Installs, sets up and performs experiments, interacting with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, public policy or related field.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Statistical analysis package such as Stata, R or Python.

Preferred Competencies

• Work both independently, in a self-directed manner, and as a team member.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and compelling written materials geared towards technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mature, self-directed individual, able to balance multiple tasks and prioritize effectively in order to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced working environment.
• Work efficiently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organizational skills and high attention to detail.
• Strong interest in development economics.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Short Writing Sample, showing use of data (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health