BFI Employment Opportunities

Job Summary:

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with  Maggie Shi, Zarek Brot-Goldberg, and Josh Gottlieb.  The Research Professional will be involved in all stages of ongoing and new research projects related to research in the economics of health. 

Successful candidates will work directly with Professors Shi, Brot-Goldberg, Josh Gottlieb, and co-authors as part of  BFI’s Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP). The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2025 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, or Python. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2025 (flexible) and work for BFI for one or two years before applying to graduate school in Economics or another quantitative social science. BFI offers competitive salary and employee benefits. 

 Unit-specific Responsibilities:

• Write programs in Stata, R, or Python to analyze large datasets
• Construct maps, figures, and tables for economics papers 
• Identify new data sources 
• Editing tasks 
• Other duties as assigned 

 Unit-preferred Competencies:

• Desired (but not required) skills include advanced familiarity with numerical optimization and package development in R and/or Python, and the ability to use Stata to manage and analyze large datasets. Although previous experience with any specific language is not essential, familiarity with at least one scripting language is encouraged. 
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously 
• Excellent organizational skills 
• Attention to detail 
• Strong academic writing/communication skills 

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, computer science, physics, engineering, or other quantitative STEM fields is highly desirable.

Experience

• Relevant research experience as a research assistant.

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of R, Python, Stata preferred

Required Documents:

• Resume/CV
• Writing sample
• Transcripts (unofficial is ok)

The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.

Please send questions about this position to bfipredoc@uchicago.edu.

The Chicago Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) anticipates hiring a Research Administrator for their branch lab located on the University of Chicago campus. The Chicago FSRDC UChicago branch provides qualified researchers, with approved projects, the opportunity to perform statistical analyses using confidential/restricted-use microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau and other Federal Agencies. The Administrator responsibilities include (though not limited to):

• Working with researchers on proposal development and project management,
• Ensuring that proposals and projects are properly documented in management and tracking systems,
• Implementing Census Bureau’s policies and procedures concerning data stewardship,
• Participating in network-wide activities that advance the growth and development of the overall FSRDC program,
• Maintaining an active research agenda, and
• Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the FSRDC UChicago branch lab.

The Chicago FSRDC UChicago branch lab is located on the campus of the University of Chicago in Saieh Hall for Economics under the oversight of the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics, which is a rigorous academic/research environment. The position is expected to start fall 2025, with some flexibility and subject to Federal hiring processes. Due to the Federal hiring process, only U.S. Citizens are eligible for this role.

Qualified candidates should have a graduate degree (Masters or Ph.D.) in an empirical (data-driven) social science discipline such as economics, sociology, demography, or applied statistics. Strong writing, communication, and organization skills are a must. Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines.

The Chicago FSRDC UChicago branch is currently conducting preliminary recruiting for the position. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume/C.V., at least three professional references, and a sample of professional writing. Candidates will also be required to undergo the formal Federal hiring process, as well as pass security clearance checks. The selected candidate will become an employee of the U.S. Census Bureau, which manages the FSRDC program.

More information about the FSRDC program is available here.

Questions regarding this position can be sent to bfiresearchsupport@uchicago.edu. 

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work for Professor Christopher Blattman as part of BFI’s Development Economics Initiative. The Research Professional will collaborate on new and ongoing research projects with a focus on, but not limited to, the empirical analysis of field and quasi-experiments. More specifically, the Research Professional will be involved in advanced empirical and theoretical work on violence prevention, on the economics organized crime, as well as other topics on the intersection of development economics and political economy. The Research Professional is part of the vibrant research environment at The University of Chicago and may attend and participate in seminars and workshops in preparation for a successful academic career. This position requires a commitment of at least one year and applicants must be available to begin work as early as April 2025 or no later than July 2025.

BFI’s Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree by June 2025 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab.

Responsibilities:

• Contributing to design and implementation of research in development economics.
• Conducting data cleaning and data analysis.
• Assistance drafting, fact-checking and proof-reading papers.
• Developing literature reviews.

Qualifications: 

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, or related field with substantial training in economics

Preferred Education

• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field preferred

Experience

• Work experience in a research environment, with proven analytical and quantitative skills
• Experience conducting RCTs or other research in a developing country
• Experience with a statistical analysis package such as R, Python, or Stata

Preferred Competencies:

• Strong interest in development economics
• Ability to 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
• Ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision
• Excellent organizational skills and high attention to detail

Working Conditions: 

• This position will perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
• Requires the ability to work independently for periods of time.

Required Documents:

• Resume/CV (required)
• Transcripts (required)
• Writing sample (optional)

About the Unit:

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) works with the Chicago Economics community to turn its evidence-based research into real-world impact. BFI takes a unique approach to bridging the divide between academic researchers and decision-makers in the business community and government by translating and packaging the rigorous work of the Chicago Economics community into accessible formats, and proactively sharing those findings with relevant decision-makers and thought leaders around the globe. BFI is a collaborative platform serving the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Law School. For more information visit https://bfi.uchicago.edu and https://bfi.uchicago.edu/info-for/prep.

The Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago uses the tools of economics to develop innovations with the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. It was founded and is led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer. The Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. The program offers unique research and professional training opportunities at the University of Chicago. PREP sits within the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. BFI is a collaborative platform serving the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Development Innovation Lab, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Law School. For more information visit https://bfi.uchicago.edu and https://bfi.uchicago.edu/info-for/prep/.

Job Summary

DIL is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professor Michael Kremer, Nobel Laureate, and possibly other faculty as part of the Development Innovation Lab. Successful applicants will collaborate on new and ongoing research in development economics.

The Research Professional’s responsibilities will span all stages of research, including collecting data of in both tabular and spatial formats, developing algorithms that clean and organize data, conducting statistical analyses, running simulations, and preparing manuscripts and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Under limited direction, performs complex lab and/or research-related duties and tasks.
• Supports data collection. Develops data collection instruments, trains and oversees the work of research support personnel, and monitors data quality.
• Supports analytical needs of research projects. Collects, records, and analyzes data. Builds, manages, and maintains project databases.
• Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports, manuscripts, and other documents.
• Supports the design and implementation of experiments, interacting with research subjects and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
• Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
• Presents research findings at staff meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Work Experience:

Minimum of one year of work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree in economics, mathematics, computer science, statistics, public policy, engineering or comparable field.

Experience:

• A minimum of one to two years of relevant research experience. Experience gained in school counts towards this qualification.
• Experience working, studying, or spending significant time in developing countries.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of mathematics and statistics (strong preference for candidates with GRE scores above 165).
• Knowledge of research techniques and methods used in impact evaluations, particularly, randomized controlled trials.

 Preferred Competencies

• Advanced coursework in Economics or Mathematics.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Work both independently and as a team member.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

 Working Conditions

• Perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
• Work independently for periods of eight (8) hours or more.
• Spend extended periods traveling for field work.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Professional References Contact Information (3)(required)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.