Pre-Doctoral Research 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 start 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 role spans multiple stages of the research process: project and measurement design; secure data management and documentation; empirical and theoretical analysis; preparation of papers, presentations, reports, and replication materials; and development of data systems and AI-assisted research tools. 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 no later than July 2027, with earlier dates preferred.

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 2027 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata or R. Experience with other programming tools such as Python or Matlab is also valued.

Responsibilities:

• Cleans and analyzes data.
• Clean, manage and analyze research data, following data security and confidentiality requirements.
• Write and maintain reproducible code and research workflows
• Develop research data systems and AI-assisted tools.
• Coordinate with faculty, research staff and external partners on project needs
• Conduct literature reviews and support research planning.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, public policy or related field with substantial quantitative training. Knowledge of RCTs and econometric analysis is particularly valued.

Experience:

• Relevant research, data analysis, or programming experience; experience gained through coursework may count.
• Experience applying statistical or econometric methods and working with large or complex datasets.
• Experience with a statistical analysis package such as Stata, R or Python. Stata and R are strongly preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent organization, and close attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, balance multiple projects, and meet deadlines.

Preferred Competencies

Experience and skills:

• Effective use of agentic AI tools (such as Claude Code or Codex) to support coding, data work, documentation, with the judgement to verify output and handle confidential data appropriately.
• Experience with Git, Latex, survey platforms (such as Qualtrics or SurveyCTO) is valued.
• Working proficiency in Spanish is valued (not required)

Working Conditions:

• This position will perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
• Requires the ability to work independently for periods of eight (8) hours or more.
• May involve short periods weeks of fieldwork

Application Documents

• Resume/CV
• Writing Sample
• Transcripts
• Two professional references

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.

Disclaimer: The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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.

Job Summary

The Events Coordinator works closely with the Events Manager and Senior Manager, Events and Academic Programs at the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) as a key member of the events team. This position provides professional support and plans logistics for a broad range of 80-130 events per academic year. These events include academic conferences, workshops, seminars, newsmaker events, summer programs and more.

Under general guidance, this role performs a broad range of operational business activities relating to the design, planning, and execution of events and programming.

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 has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community.

Job Summary

The BFI Director of Strategy for Academic Initiatives, is responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, and expansion of academic initiatives promoted by BFI, beginning with the Master of Arts in Economics program (MAE Program). The Director will help to support and implement opportunities to expand the academic offerings in Economics, both domestically and internationally. This includes the MAE Program as well as any designated sub-degrees, specializations, certificates, or other related credentials. Grounded in academic rigor and focused on practical impact, the proposed offerings align seamlessly with BFI’s mission and the University of Chicago’s legacy of bold, interdisciplinary thinking. This role includes close collaboration with faculty directors and Economics Department staff to grow enrollment, support student success, steward program budgets, and promote the program to prospective students. The Director ensures that the program meets UChicago standards, aligns with institutional goals, and provides students with a world-class education in economics.

In addition, this leader works closely with the Dean of Students in the Social Sciences Division, University Director of Master’s Admissions, Academic and Faculty Services, Career Advancement Services, and Student Life, as well as the Chair of the Economics Department to set the direction and tone for designated academic initiatives. The Director participates actively in the overall leadership, serving as the day-to-day face of these initiatives for donors, supporters, as well as prospective and current students.

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professors Chang-Tai Hsieh and Erik Hurst on ongoing and new research projects related to global innovation, China’s economic growth, and technological revolution in the US service sector. Applicants must be available to begin work in July 2027. 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.

Successful candidates will work directly with Professors Chang-Tai Hsieh and Erik Hurst 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 Bachelor’s degree by June 2027 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in programming and numerical optimization software. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2027 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.

Responsibilities:

• Cleans and analyzes data.
• Writes or finalizes replicable data files or scripts for publication.
• Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures.
• Assists with writing data analysis plans and contributes to preparing study registration documents.
• Supports the implementation of field experiments including supporting the design and implementation of surveys, and monitoring the quality of data collected, when needed.
• Supports with writing of grant and policy reports and assists with drafting presentations of research findings.
• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.
• 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: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Experience: 3 months to one year of work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.

• Experience in econometrics.
• Advanced coursework in Economics or Mathematics.
• Familiarity in analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques in data analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis packages such as Stata, R, or Python.
• 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.
• Understanding of academia and higher education in a research and teaching environment.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter
• Writing Sample
• Transcripts (unofficial accepted)
• Two professional references

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.

Disclaimer: The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Summary
The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) is seeking a Research Professional (RP) to work on new and ongoing research projects in and related to urban economics, international trade, and industrial organization. The Research Professional will primarily work under the guidance of Professors Juanma Castro-Vincenzi, Vincent Rollet, and Alejandro Sabal. The research professional will be responsible for the construction of new datasets, reviewing relevant literature, estimation and data analysis, and the revision, extension, and description of results.

The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2027 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Git, Python, and/or Matlab. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2027 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.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Experience: 3 months to one year of work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.

• Experience in with statistics and econometrics.
• Working as a research assistant.
• Analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods or machine learning techniques.
• Knowledge of Stata, Python, Matlab, Julia, or R required

Preferred Qualifications

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

Experience:

• Previous research assistance experience contributing meaningfully to faculty research.
• Advanced knowledge of research techniques and methods in relevant scientific field.
• Knowledge of Git and LaTeX helpful
• Advanced knowledge of research technique and methods in relevant scientific field.

Preferred Competencies

• Understanding of academia and higher education in a research and teaching environment.
• 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 accepted)
• Two professional references

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.

Disclaimer: The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Summary
The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Brent Neiman and Milena Almagro (Year 1), and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg and Rodrigo Adao (Year 2) on ongoing and new research projects related to international finance, macro, and spatial economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2027 and available to begin work in Summer 2027. The research professional will be responsible for the construction of new datasets, reviewing relevant literature, estimation and data analysis, and the revision, extension, and description of results.

The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Git, Python, and/or Matlab.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Experience: 3 months to one year of work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.

• Experience in with statistics and econometrics.
• Working as a research assistant.
• Analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods or machine learning techniques.
• Knowledge of Stata, Python, Matlab, Julia, or R required

Preferred Qualifications

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

Experience:

• Previous research assistance experience contributing meaningfully to faculty research.
• Advanced knowledge of research techniques and methods in relevant scientific field.
• Knowledge of Git and LaTeX helpful
• Advanced knowledge of research technique and methods in relevant scientific field.

Preferred Competencies>

• Understanding of academia and higher education in a research and teaching environment.
• 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 accepted)
• Two professional references

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.

Disclaimer: The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

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.

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.

This position requires a commitment of at least two years.

Applications will be reviewed from mid-December on a rolling basis. Successful candidates will be contacted for a data task.

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.

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.

Education, Experience, and Certifications: Bachelor’s degree required.

Required Documents: 

• Cover Letter
• CV
• Transcript (unofficial)
• Most advanced writing sample in economics (if available)

About the Department 

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.

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.

Disclaimer: The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire multiple full-time Research Professionals to work with Professor Evan Rose on ongoing and new research projects related to applied econometrics, labor and public economics. Applicants must be available to begin work in Summer 2027.

Successful candidates will work directly with Professor Evan Rose and co-authors as part of 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.

Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2027 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Julia, Python, and/or Matlab. The ideal candidate 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

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Experience: 3 months to one year of work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.

• Experience in econometrics.
• Advanced coursework in Economics or Mathematics.
• Familiarity in analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques in data analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis packages such as Stata, R, or Python.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Experience:

• Previous research assistance experience contributing meaningfully to faculty research.
• Advanced knowledge of research techniques and methods in relevant scientific field.

Preferred Competencies

• Understanding of academia and higher education in a research and teaching environment.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter
• Writing Sample
• Transcripts (unofficial accepted)
• Two professional references

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.

Disclaimer: The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Summary

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, in partnership with BFI, is seeking to hire multiple full-time Research Professionals 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.

Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through less than 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Technical Skills of 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.

Preferred Licenses and Certifications

• None

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(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.

Job Summary

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Joshua Gottlieb, Matthew Notowidigdo, Zarek Brot, and/or Maggie Shi 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 Bachelor’s degree prior to Summer 2027. 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 of 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), Princeton (Economics), Northwestern (Economics), Northwestern (Kellogg), Harvard (Health Policy), University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and other excellent programs in the United States and abroad.

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

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

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, computer science, science, engineering, or related STEM fields from an accredited university.

Experience: Relevant research experience as a research assistant.

Preferred Competencies: Knowledge of R, Python, Stata preferred

Application Documents

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

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.