Research Specialist

About the Department

For more than a century, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics has been a global leader in economic research and education. Our distinguished faculty have earned numerous prestigious awards, including more Nobel Prizes and John Bates Clark Medals in economics than any other university. Many of our faculty are also esteemed members of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Econometric Society, reflecting the department’s enduring impact on the field.

Job Summary

Directly reporting to Professor Christina Brown, the Research Specialists will be a part of the vibrant research environment of the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at The University of Chicago. The Research Specialists 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 Specialists’ responsibilities will span all stages of research, writing and administering surveys, cleaning and organizing data, conducting statistical analyses, running simulations, and preparing manuscripts and presentations. The position offers a hybrid schedule of on-campus and remote workdays and a commitment of one year with the possibility of renewal.

Responsibilities

• Support 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.
• Handle the cleaning and management of complex data collected from various sources. Maintain a high standard of data quality through rigorous application of high-frequency checks on the incoming data.
• Apply advanced statistical techniques and coding skills to interpret data and analyze results. Deliver insightful and timely reports to support decision-making regarding the ongoing projects.
• Conduct literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Play 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.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in economics, public policy or related field.

Experience:

• Statistical analysis package such as Stata (preferred), 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 with the ability 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.