Pre-doctoral Researcher - Technical Associate (Antoinette Schoar) 2025/2026

Description

We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated individuals to work as full-time research assistant for a period of at least one year, with the option to extend to two years. Our ideal employment start date would be between March 1st to July 15th, 2026, The work will entail close collaboration with all stages of the research process on several projects in the areas of fintech, cryptocurrencies and blockchain, financial intermediation, and consumer finance. 

This position offers the opportunity to gain exposure to a broad set of economic research topics and methodologies and is especially valuable for someone who wants to pursue a PhD or advanced Master’s program in economics, finance, business analytics or related fields. The chosen candidates will also gain valuable experience analyzing large data sets and learning skills in machine learning, big data, econometric methods and working with unique data sets.

Prinicipal Duties and Reponsibilities

• Perform analysis of large-scale quantitative and qualitative datasets as part of research projects.
• Use of new tools to collect and process data.
• Work with blockchain data and data from other digital platforms.
• Summarize and document research results and learn about different research agendas.
• Other duties are as needed or required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Economics or Statistics, or a related field; minimum 2 years’ specialized experience with qualitative data analysis, research methods, social sciences (which may include experience gained as an undergraduate; strong programming skills and experience, especially in Python, R or SQL; and ability to work independently to solve problems.  Candidates must have authorization to work in the US for the duration of the appointment. Master’s degree preferred. The pay range for Technical Associate I is $50,000-$63,000

Application Instructions

If you are interested, please provide the following documents:

• A one page cover letter briefly describing your academic career and future study goals.
• A CV
• A transcript
• A writing sample. This could be any research paper or term paper that you think best reflects your abilities
• A sample of code which you have written

We will be accepting and reviewing applications on a rolling basis until the position(s) are filled. To apply please follow the Apply now Link. For questions, please email Katy Scott (kscott27@mit.edu) with the subject heading “Application for Research Assistant Position” before March 1st, 2026.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. MIT’s full policy on Nondiscrimination can be found here.

Background Check Policy
Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including possible verification of any findings of misconduct (or pending investigations) from prior employers.