Pre-Doctoral Research Opportunities

Job Summary

The Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professor Eyal Frank on a research project using causal inference methods to answer questions regarding the social costs of extreme weather events, their impacts on biodiversity losses, and how those, in turn, affect agricultural production, and whether farmers are able to substitute for the loss in ecosystem services. This project studies a simple question: when extreme weather kills animals that help farms, do crops suffer afterward? Climate change may damage agriculture not only through heat, drought, or storms directly, but also by damaging ecosystems that provide services like pollination and pest control. The analysis will focus, at first, on two natural experiments where large die-off events sharply reduced the population levels of species that provide biological pest control, or pollination services. The research design will compare crops that depend on these animals with crops that do not, in addition to comparing outcomes before and after the wildlife losses, using weather data to separate the effect of the animal die-off from the direct effect of the weather itself. The project will use causal inference methods, as well as recent advances in machine learning methods in augmenting causal inference analysis. In addition, the projects will use satellite-derived remote sensing data, weather reanalysis data, agricultural production data, data on agri-chemical input use, and data agricultural property transactions. As a result, working on this project will prepare the research professional for pursuing a variety of research interests at the intersection of environment, ecology, conservation, and agricultural productivity.

Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2026 and available to begin work no later than October 1, 2026. The Research Professional’s responsibilities span all stages of research, including managing projects, collecting and analyzing data, creating presentations, and editing manuscripts. In addition to working closely with faculty as research assistants, pre-doctoral fellows are able to take graduate-level courses in economics and other disciplines and attend 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. 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 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.

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

Hiring Note: This position is funded by a grant that restricts eligibility to candidates who do not hold a master’s degree or higher. Applicants with a master’s degree are not eligible for this role.

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

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

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

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

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

More information about the FSRDC program is available here.

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