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.
Please direct questions about any open positions to bfipredoc@uchicago.edu
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The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professors Ali Hortacsu and Chad Syverson 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 2025 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2025 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 to analyze large datasets
- Construct maps, figures, and tables for economics papers
- Identify new data sources
- Editing tasks
- Other duties as assigned.
Unit-preferred Competencies:
- Desired (but not required) skills include advanced familiarity with numerical optimization and package development in R and/or Python, and the ability to use Stata to manage and analyze large datasets. Although previous experience with any specific language is not essential, familiarity with at least one scripting language is encouraged.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Excellent organizational skills
- Attention to detail
- Strong academic writing/communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in economics, computer 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)
The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.
The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professors Azeem Shaikh and Max Tabord-Meehan as part of BFI’s Big Data Initiative and BFI’s Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP). Successful applicants will collaborate on new and ongoing research in econometric theory. The position will likely involve programming novel statistical procedures and conducting simulation experiments, as well as reading, understanding and summarizing current methodological papers in economics and statistics.
The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2025 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2025 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 R, Python, or Matlab
- Construct figures and tables for economics papers
- Conduct literature reviews in economics and statistics
- Identify new data sources
- Editing tasks
- Other duties as assigned.
Unit-preferred Competencies:
- Prior coursework in math, statistics and econometrics required
- Desired skills include advanced familiarity with numerical optimization and package development in R, Python, or Matlab. 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.
Work Experience:
Minimum of one year of work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
Education
- 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, Python or Matlab preferred
- Knowledge of STATA preferred
Required Documents:
- Resume/CV
- Cover letter
- Writing sample
- Transcripts (unofficial is ok)
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. For more information visit https://bfi.uchicago.edu.
The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.
The Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago uses the tools of economics to develop innovations with the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. It was founded and is led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer. The Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. The program offers unique research and professional training opportunities at the University of Chicago. PREP sits within the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. BFI is a collaborative platform serving the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Development Innovation Lab, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Law School. For more information visit https://bfi.uchicago.edu and https://bfi.uchicago.edu/info-for/prep/.
Job Summary
DIL is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Professor Michael Kremer, Nobel Laureate, and possibly other faculty as part of the Development Innovation Lab. Successful applicants will collaborate on new and ongoing research in development economics.
The Research Professional’s responsibilities will span all stages of research, including collecting data of in both tabular and spatial formats, developing algorithms that clean and organize data, conducting statistical analyses, running simulations, and preparing manuscripts and presentations.
Responsibilities
- Under limited direction, performs complex lab and/or research-related duties and tasks.
- Supports data collection. Develops data collection instruments, trains and oversees the work of research support personnel, and monitors data quality.
- Supports analytical needs of research projects. Collects, records, and analyzes data. Builds, manages, and maintains project databases.
- Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports, manuscripts, and other documents.
- Supports the design and implementation of experiments, interacting with research subjects and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
- Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.
- Presents research findings at staff meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences.
- Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Work Experience:
Minimum of one year of work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Advanced degree in economics, mathematics, computer science, statistics, public policy, engineering or comparable field.
Experience:
- A minimum of one to two years of relevant research experience. Experience gained in school counts towards this qualification.
- Experience working, studying, or spending significant time in developing countries.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Knowledge of mathematics and statistics (strong preference for candidates with GRE scores above 165).
- Knowledge of research techniques and methods used in impact evaluations, particularly, randomized controlled trials.
Preferred Competencies
- Advanced coursework in Economics or Mathematics.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
- Work both independently and as a team member.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Working Conditions
- Perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
- Work independently for periods of eight (8) hours or more.
- Spend extended periods traveling for field work.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
- Professional References Contact Information (3)(required)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.
The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Maggie Shi, Zarek Brot-Goldberg, and Josh Gottlieb. The Research Professional will be involved in all stages of ongoing and new research projects related to research in the economics of health.
Successful candidates will work directly with Professors Shi, Brot-Goldberg, Josh Gottlieb, and co-authors as part of BFI’s Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP). The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2025 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, or Python. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2025 (flexible) and work for BFI for one or two years before applying to graduate school in Economics or another quantitative social science. BFI offers competitive salary and employee benefits.
Unit-specific Responsibilities:
- Write programs in Stata, R, or Python to analyze large datasets
- Construct maps, figures, and tables for economics papers
- Identify new data sources
- Editing tasks
- Other duties as assigned
Unit-preferred Competencies:
- Desired (but not required) skills include advanced familiarity with numerical optimization and package development in R and/or Python, and the ability to use Stata to manage and analyze large datasets. Although previous experience with any specific language is not essential, familiarity with at least one scripting language is encouraged.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Excellent organizational skills
- Attention to detail
- Strong academic writing/communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in economics, computer science, physics, engineering, or other quantitative STEM fields is highly desirable.
Experience
- Relevant research experience as a research assistant.
Technical Knowledge/Skills
- Knowledge of R, Python, Stata preferred
Required Documents:
- Resume/CV
- Writing sample
- Transcripts (unofficial is ok)
The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.
The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) is seeking a Research Professional (RP) to work on new and ongoing research projects in and related to macro and international economics. The Research Professional will work under the guidance of Professors Rodrigo Adao, and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg. The research professional will be responsible for the construction of new datasets, the implementation of estimation methodologies, data analysis, and the revision and extension of theoretical results.
This position will be most desirable to candidates considering or planning to apply for graduate school during the second year of their RP role. Previous RPs have attended PhD programs at Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Princeton, and Penn State, among others. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2025 and work for BFI for two years. BFI offers competitive salary and employee benefits.
In addition to the frequent interaction with Professors Adao and Rossi-Hnsberg, the RP will benefit from interacting with other peers as part of the large BFI Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP). As a member of the Chicago academic community, the RP will be able to take advantage of a rich set of programming and can attend seminars and workshops. To learn more about what the BFI environment has to offer, please visit: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/info-for/prep/.
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.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field.
- Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field.
Experience:
- Experience in econometrics.
- Working as a research assistant.
- Analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods.
- Machine learning techniques in data analysis.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Knowledge of Stata, Python, Matlab, Julia, or R required
- Knowledge of LaTeX preferred
Preferred Competencies
- 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
- Cover Letter (include earliest available start date)
- Writing Sample (optional)
- Transcript (unofficial is ok)
- Three Professional References (required, we will inform you before contacting your references)
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. For more information visit https://bfi.uchicago.edu.
The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.
Reporting to the Deputy Executive Director, the Finance Manager will provide high-level analytical and financial support to the senior leadership team, including all departments within the Becker Friedman Institute.
In planning and implementing the Institute’s financial strategy, this position will demonstrate superior organizational and financial management skills, including escalating and resolving issues. Develops a common set of metrics and methodologies for evaluating University and unit-specific financial performance by managing and integrating unit-specific financial data analytics and reporting. Contributes to the development of long- and short-term financial goals, business strategies/plans, and financial forecasts/models. Conducts research and advises senior management about financial reporting requirements at BFI. Prepares financial reports for the operating budget on a quarterly and annual basis. In addition, this role is essential for improving compliance and enhancing internal controls in accordance with US GAAP, University audits, and other agencies’ policies and procedures.
This position manages operating and capital budgets for divisions and/or University-wide administrative units. Helps develop long and short term financial goals, business strategies/plans, and financial forecasts/models for major service programs and initiatives. Manages quarterly and year-end reporting for the operating budget.
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 October on a rolling basis. Only 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)
The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.