Predoctoral Scholar

Department

Harris School Pre-Docs, Temps and Non-Student Research Assistants

About the Department

Why Policy? For a better world. Why Harris Public Policy? Because when it comes to better policymaking, evidence matters. We work at the frontiers of data collection and analysis, using the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society. We conduct rigorous inquiry in an environment of innovation and risk taking. We collaborate across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, adopting new methodologies to drive better solutions. We engage with our city, our world, and our leaders every day to evaluate and test our ideas. And we lead with our passion for driving social change, knowing that passion alone does not equal impact.

Job Summary

Professor Chris Blattman seeks a full-time Predoctoral Scholar with strong econometric skills to work on large-scale social policy research projects.

The successful candidate will have experience in applying a variety of statistical modeling and data analysis techniques to datasets in real-world settings. From project inception to completion, the research assistant will contribute to all facets of data collection and cleaning, model development, and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Builds statistical models for a variety of research projects.
• Implements empirical econometric strategies and analytical approaches to solving specific research questions.
• Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts, presentations, and other documents.
• Works in collaboration with members of the research team and policy partners.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for research projects.
• 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:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

• --

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience working with statistical programming languages (e.g., R and/or Stata).

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Experience in data analysis.

• Strong quantitative skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.

Preferred Competencies

• Prior research assistantship(s) in economics, public policy, or related quantitative social science fields.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.

• Ability to work carefully with sensitive and confidential data.

• Ability to work with large, complex, and/or administrative datasets.

Working Conditions

• Predoctoral Scholar will be based out of Chicago, IL.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

• Reference Contact Information (2) (required)

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

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

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$55,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

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.

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