BFI Employment Opportunities

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 March 2026 and no later than July 2026.

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’sdegree by June 2026 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab.  

Unit-Specific 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. 
• Other duties as assigned

Unit-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 

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, or related field with substantial training in economics 
• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field 

Experience

• Work experience in a research environment, with proven analytical and quantitative skills 
• Experience conducting RCTs or other research in a developing country 

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Experience with a statistical analysis package such as R, Python, or Stata

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample (required)
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) (required)
• Two Professional References (required)

About the Department  

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community. 

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

The Development Innovation Lab 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.

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 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. (15%)
• Supports data collection. Develops data collection instruments, trains and oversees the work of research support personnel, and monitors data quality. (15%)
• Supports analytical needs of research projects. Collects, records, and analyzes data. Builds, manages, and maintains project databases. (15%)
• Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports, manuscripts, and other documents. (10%)
• Supports the design and implementation of experiments, interacting with research subjects and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator. (15%)
• Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. (10%)
• Presents research findings at staff meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences. (5%)
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project. (10%)
• Performs other related work as needed. (5%)

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:

• Strong undergraduate training in economics and mathematics from a top institution relevant research experience. Experience gained in school counts towards this.
• Experience working, studying, or spending significant time in developing countries.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

• Knowledge of mathematics and statistics as indicated by coursework and GRE scores (if taken). We have a strong preference for candidates with quantitative GRE scores above 167).
• 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.
• Candidates must be willing to travel extensively and flexibly as needed for their respective responsibilities.

Required 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 is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. 

The Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC) invites applications for full-time pre-doctoral fellows for the academic year 2026-27. An interdisciplinary research and training center at the University of Chicago, EPIC is contributing innovative solutions to the global energy challenge: how can we ensure that people around the world, today and in the future, have access to reliable, affordable energy needed for human development without putting our health, environment and climate at risk? Previous results from EPIC projects have been influential with policymakers worldwide and featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other leading publications.

The Climate Impact Lab’s team of economists, climate scientists, data engineers, and risk analysts are building the world’s most comprehensive body of research quantifying the impacts of climate change sector-by-sector, community-by-community around the world. This research will allow decision-makers in the public and private sectors to understand the risks climate change presents and mitigate those risks through smarter investments and public policy. The research will also produce the world’s first empirically-derived estimate of the social cost of carbon — the cost to society from each ton of carbon dioxide emitted. This figure can serve as the basis for energy and climate policies.

Successful candidates will work with the Climate Impact Lab under the direction of Michael Greenstone. Responsibilities span all stages of research, including managing projects, collecting and analyzing data, creating presentations, and editing manuscripts. Our research involves using quasi-experimental methods and globally comprehensive data to analyze climate change’s impact on various socioeconomic sectors, including health, agriculture, labor, energy, conflict, coasts, and migration. In addition to working closely with faculty as research assistants, pre-doctoral fellows typically attend classes and seminars at EPIC, the University of Chicago, and affiliate institutions.

The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. People in this or similar positions have gone on to Economics Ph.D. programs at Harvard, MIT, University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley, and similar schools upon completion of this program.

Applicants must have completed a Bachelors or Master’s degree by the beginning of their employment and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2026 or earlier and work for EPIC for one or two years before applying to graduate school in Economics or another quantitative social science. EPIC offers competitive salary and employee benefits. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Unit-Specific Responsibilities

• Under limited direction, performs complex lab and/or research-related duties and tasks;
• Collects, records and analyzes data;
• Conducts literature reviews;
• Participates in writing reports and manuscripts;
• Ensures compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates;
• Trains and oversees the work of research support personnel;
• Transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments;
• Presenting research findings at staff meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences;
• Assisting with building databases;
• Recruiting and scheduling research subjects.

Unit-Preferred Competencies

• Ability to train others
• Advanced knowledge in relevant scientific field
• Advanced knowledge of research techniques or methods
• Knowledge of regulatory policies and procedures
• Knowledge of scientific applications and equipment
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail
• Organizational skills
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

• Background in any of the following major fields: economics, business (with a concentration in economics), finance, public policy (with a concentration in economics), other social sciences (with quantitative training), mathematics, statistics, or computer science

Experience

• Relevant research experience as a research assistant.

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Experience with Stata, Python, Matlab, and/or R required

Application Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
• Two Professional References (required)

About the Department

The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), part of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth (ICSG) produces data-driven research that advances society’s understanding of the global energy challenge and translates research insights into real-world impacts through strategic outreach and training for the next generation of global energy leaders. EPIC’s pre-doctoral fellowship program, part of the Becker Friedman Institute’s Pre-Doctoral in Economics Program (PREP), serves as a two-year bridge program between college and a doctoral program.  Recipients gain an in-depth understanding of the entire research process while undergoing intensive career development as part of a close-knit community 

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. 

About the Department

The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Inspired by our namesakes, Nobel Laureates Gary Becker and Milton Friedman, who believed that economic research could help improve the world, the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community.

Job Summary

This role has deep knowledge and expertise in leading programs designed to meet fundraising goals for contributed income. Serves as strategist of efforts to secure gifts and build relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts. Develops communication strategies for projects. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, curious, and enthusiastic, and will build a broad understanding of BFI and its affiliated schools so that s/he can represent the Institute and University to donors and prospective donors.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, Schools and Units, leads all activity related to seeking philanthropic support for the BFI. Staffs and serves as advisor to BFI’s leadership in developing fundraising plans and cases for support for Institute priorities, and effectively works with faculty and institutional leaders to advance priorities, execute advancement plans, and meet fundraising goals.
• Raises $5M-10M+ annually from individuals and organizations, and supports the Faculty Director in raising an aggregate $15M-$20M annually. Builds and manages a personal portfolio of 80-100 major and principal individual and organizational gift prospects, conducts 100+ visits per year, and manages and assists in 20-24 $100K+ solicitations per year.
• Develops cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans tailored to specific donors and prospects.
• Conceptualizes, prepares, and presents funding proposals and other materials necessary to solicit and close gifts, including those that require careful negotiations and complex strategies.
• Staffs and provides an elevated level of leadership and partnership to the BFI Director, and Executive Director.
• Staffs and meets regularly with faculty and program directors to develop a sophisticated, up-to-date understanding of institutional research, programs, and resource needs. Advises and involves academic leaders in fundraising strategies and development of fundraising opportunities consistent with BFI and University priorities.
• Monitors, analyzes and reports on overall results to internal and external constituencies.
• Works closely and collaboratively with gift officers University-wide (principal gifts, regional major gifts, gift planning, annual fund, foundation and corporate relations) to monitor and facilitate growth of the BFI prospect pool, and contributes to strategy and solicitation plans for multiple-interest prospects that incorporate BFI priorities.
• Investigates new fundraising ideas and builds consensus among stakeholders to advance those ideas with the most potential.
• Serves as the chief staff liaison to the BFI Council.
• Works closely with BFI and University development communications, donor relations and dedicated events to conceive, direct, monitor, and evaluate a comprehensive BFI fundraising communications and outreach plan for donor cultivation and recognition.
• Manages an annual budget.
• Assists in specific fundraising activity for other Provost priorities.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Works closely with Senior Leadership, Officers and Deans to design strategic objectives and action steps that will lead to the successful realization of these projects.
• May brief senior level administrators in preparation for contact with prospects.
• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:
—

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Minimum four years of leading a project team or managing staff.
• Minimum three years of soliciting and closing major gifts experience.
• Minimum two years developing and monitoring budgets.
• Expertise managing complex prospects and donor pipeline.
• Background working closely and collaboratively with senior leadership, trustees, and board members.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University’s Donor Relationship Management System.
• Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Demonstrated success of meeting or exceeding goals.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Demonstrated effective decision-making, while working autonomously and exercising good judgement.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed organization and identify and utilize resources efficiently and effectively.
• Tactful exercise of judgment and discretion with sensitive and highly confidential information.
• An exceptional work ethic and record of personal initiative.
• Flexible and adaptable to latest programs in an emerging and changing environment.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

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

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professors Ali Hortacsu and Gunter Hitsch as part of BFI’s Industrial Organization Initiative and BFI’s Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP). The BFI IO initiative sponsors projects in all areas connected to the economics of industry. Research professionals work closely with faculty on project areas including but not limited to theoretical and empirical work on strategic firm interactions, estimation of demand and production functions, advertising and information asymmetries, regulations and their impact on firm performance and broader economic outcomes, the design of market mechanisms for private and public sector applications. Requirements: mastery of undergraduate econometrics and statistics, and proficiency in R/Python/Stata and robust software development practices.

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 2026 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2026 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/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 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.
• 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 sciences, engineering, or related STEM fields is highly desirable.

Experience

• Relevant research experience as a research assistant.

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of R and/or Python preferred
• Knowledge of STATA preferred
• Knowledge of SQL/Spark preferred

Required Documents:

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

About the Department  

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community. 

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. 

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professors Esteban Rossi-Hansberg and Rodrigo Adão on ongoing and new research projects related to international finance, macro, and spatial economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2026 and available to begin work in July 2026. 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. 

The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Applicants must have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab. The ideal candidate would 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

• Cleans and analyzes data. 
• Writes or finalizes replicable data files or scripts for publication. 
• Assists with writing data analysis plans and contributes to preparing study registration documents. 
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project. 
• Analyzes and maintains data. Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents. 
• Performs other related work as needed. 

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

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, computer sciences, engineering, or related STEM fields is highly desirable.

Experience

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

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of R and/or Python preferred
• Knowledge of STATA preferred

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

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

Experience

• Experience in with statistics and econometrics. 
• Working as a research assistant. 
• Analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods or machine learning techniques. 

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Advanced knowledge of research technique and methods in relevant scientific field. 
• 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. 

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample (required)
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) (required)
• Two Professional References (required)

About the Department  

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community. 

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. 

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) Labor Initiative is seeking to hire multiple full-time Research Professionals to work with Professor Evan Rose and Manasi Deshpande on ongoing and new research projects related to applied econometrics, labor and public economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2026 be available to begin work in July 2026.

Successful candidates will work directly with University of Chicago professors and co-authors as part of BFI’s Ronzetti Initiative for the Study of Labor Markets and BFI’s Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP). The position entails collaboration on new and ongoing research projects, with specialization in using applied microeconometric techniques to analyze labor markets and social policy in developed economies, including (but not limited to) 1) understanding changes in labor demand (e.g., international competition and trade, regulation and firm dynamics), 2) understanding labor supply (e.g., household labor supply, barriers to geographical and occupational mobility), 3) understanding the determination of the labor market equilibrium, 4) understanding the role of policy and institutions (e.g., the insurance and incentive effects of social insurance and safety net programs, quantifying monopsony power and implications), and 5) understanding interactions between labor markets and the criminal justice system (e.g., effects of economic shocks on crime and recidivism). 

The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Former Research Professionals have been admitted to PhD programs at the highest ranked economics programs in the US. 

Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Julia, Python, and/or Matlab. The ideal candidate would work for BFI for 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 or other languages to analyze large datasets 
• Construct maps, figures, and tables for economics papers 
• Identify new data sources 
• Conduct background research 
• Edit papers 
• 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 and R 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 sciences, engineering, or related STEM fields is highly desirable.  Background in economics is a plus, but not necessary — we welcome candidates with strong technical backgrounds and strong analytical skills who are looking for more exposure to economics. 

Experience 

• Relevant research experience as a research assistant (especially with data). 

Technical Knowledge/Skills 

• Knowledge of R, Julia and/or Python preferred 
• Knowledge of STATA preferred 

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample (required)
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) (required)
• Two Professional References (required)

About the Department  

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community. 

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. 

The Research Professional for Chicago Experiments collaborates on new and ongoing research projects with a focus on, but not limited to, the implementation and empirical analysis of field experiments and observational/administrative data. Specifically, the Research Professional is involved in advanced empirical work on labor economics, education/human capital, discrimination, behavioral economics, and other topics within applied microeconomics. 

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. The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Applicants must have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab. The ideal candidate would 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. 

Past Research Professionals have received admission offers from top PhD programs including Columbia, Maryland, NYU, Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, UPenn, Yale, among others.

Applications will be reviewed from October on a rolling basis. Only successful candidates will be contacted for a data task. 

Unit-Specific Responsibilities: 

• Collects, cleans, manipulates, and analyzes experimental datasets 
• Contributes to writing, proofreading, and fact-checking papers and presentations 
• Implements experiments, conducts data analysis, and modifies existing codes to provide robustness of test results 
• Ensures compliance with institutional, state and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.  

Unit-preferred Competencies

• Analytical skills required.  
• Attention to detail required.  
• Verbal and written communication skills required.  
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team required. 

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, computer sciences, engineering, or related STEM fields is highly desirable.

Experience

• Relevant research experience as a research assistant.

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• • Knowledge of R and/or Python preferred
  • Knowledge of STATA preferred

Required Documents: 

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Most advanced writing sample in economics (if available)
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) (required)
• Two Professional References (required) 

About the Department  

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community. 

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. 

About the Department

Inspired by our namesakes, Nobel Laureates Gary Becker and Milton Friedman, who believed that economic research could help improve the world, the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. Rooted in core values of service, rigor, and innovation, BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government, and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI plays a significant role in addressing the most difficult challenges facing the global community.

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Global Communications is a key member of the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) executive leadership team, reporting to the Executive Director. This role manages a team or multiple teams of managers and professional staff responsible for planning, preparing and disseminating information designed to keep the public informed of the University’s perspectives, programs, and accomplishments. Develops and plans marketing, press relations, creative editorial and design services, and internal communications. In coordination with BFI leadership and supported by a highly talented staff, the Senior Director is responsible for both internal and external communications, including:

• Communicating Chicago Economics research insights to key external stakeholders, including the media, decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government, and nonprofit institutions.
• Communicating BFI programming, resources, and other news with the University of Chicago leadership, academic community, and alumni.
• Advancing BFI’s national and global visibility, reputation, and prestige with external audiences in support of the Institute’s strategic initiatives and priorities.
• Developing an outreach program to engage leaders and partners around the world who can benefit from the Institute’s research discoveries and intellectual capital.
• Making faculty research accessible to external audiences using various communication vehicles, such as events, direct engagement, and legacy, digital and social media.

Responsibilities

• Strategy/Vision – works as part of the BFI leadership team on overall strategy, goals, and vision for the institute.
• Research Translation/Producing Outreach Materials – with the support of BFI’s Senior Economic Writer, works with UChicago scholars to create policy-relevant and accessible summary documents to accompany research, such as policy briefs, op-eds, blogs, testimony, speeches, video clips and podcasts, etc. This involves developing relationships and working closely with University of Chicago economists to understand their research and to identify the most effective and appropriate ways to communicate their research.
• Research Dissemination/Media Outreach – leads strategic outreach to media regarding BFI research and, as appropriate, other UChicago economics research. This includes the development and cultivation of media relationships, particularly among national economic reporters, as well as maintaining and growing BFI’s working paper series. Also serves as primary liaison to communications staff throughout UChicago to coordinate BFI’s work with other relevant offices.
• External Stakeholder and Policy Outreach – in coordination with BFI leadership and external advisers, creates and builds opportunities for BFI to routinely engage with US and global economic policymakers and policy-relevant institutions. This will include, but not be limited to: direct policy engagement which includes Capitol Hill and Administration visits, round-tables with media outlets, Capitol Hill briefings and/or other public events; NGOs; the private sector; and new opportunities for internships in economic policy for UChicago students.
• Communications – with the support of communications staff, manages/leverages all BFI communications and communications assets for both internal and external audiences, including BFI websites, social media, newsletters, programming announcements (events, awards, etc.) and more. This includes oversight of the BFI editorial calendar and quality control over all BFI content.
• Events – in coordination with BFI’s Executive Director and with the support of the events team, leads execution of BFI events, both internal (research conferences) and external (high-profile public events on policy-relevant topics). Working with the BFI communications staff, oversees event marketing such as event pages on website, event announcements, call for papers, etc.
• Management – directly leads three distinct teams: Communications, Events, and Digital Media – each led by a dedicated manager. Provides strategic oversight for professionals across web/social media, communications, design, and event planning. Engages with and directs multiple external consultants and advisers as needed. Manages the budgets for all three teams, partnering with the Finance team on invoicing, expense tracking, and forecasting.
• Implements innovative strategies in managing media interface, including publications, planning and organizing media coverage for major events, and responding to requests on sensitive or controversial issues. Proactively engages in ‘news of the day’ to frame and distribute important announcements and updates.
• Oversees the writing, preparation, and/or delivery of information from or about the unit. Is accountable for maintaining the unit’s goals and communications strategy in publications, announcements, and speeches.
• Develops and manages the communications budget.
• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:
—

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, economics, English or a related field.
• Graduate degree.

Experience:

• 10-15 years working in an economic research/policy communications environment in a leadership role.
• Significant management experience.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with academic researchers.
• Background with common web/communications tools and software platforms.

Preferred Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to influence a diverse group of people to meet goals and deadlines, build and manage teams, and work collaboratively with senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Capability to understand complex research and identify the best way to communicate said research to a variety of different audiences.
• Comfort and experience working with members of the media.
  Handle multiple tasks and assignments simultaneously.
• Handle multiple tasks and assignments simultaneously.
• Creativity and think outside-the-box.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Work independently with a high degree of initiative.
• Work as a member of a team.
• Attention to detail with excellent organizational skills.
• Set priorities and meet deadlines.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

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

Job Summary

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with BFI Health Initiative Faculty on ongoing and new research projects related to research in the economics of health. This includes developing new ideas, identifying and cleaning data sources, preparing and conducting analyses, and shaping the results for presentation and publication. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree prior to starting this role.

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

Past Research Professionals in this position have been admitted to graduate school at Princeton, University of Chicago (Economics), Northwestern (Economics), Northwestern (Kellogg), Harvard (Health Policy), University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and other excellent programs in the United States and abroad.

Unit-Specific Responsibilities

• Write programs in Stata, R, and/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 programming, and the ability 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
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications

Education

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

Experience

• Relevant research experience as a research assistant.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

• Knowledge of R, Python, Stata preferred

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample (required)
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) (required)
• Two Professional References (required)

About the Department

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community.

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.