Research Professional – Christopher Blattman (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

Job Title: Research Professional (RP)

Location: Chicago, IL

Projects: New and ongoing research projects with a focus on, but not limited to, the empirical analysis of field and quasi-experiments.

Reporting to: Chris Blattman

Compensation: $55,000 - $62,000 annual salary with additional $2,000 professional development fund

Job Summary

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 April 2025 or no later than July 2025. 

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 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. 

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.

Qualifications: 

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, or related field with substantial training in economics

Preferred Education

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

Experience

• Work experience in a research environment, with proven analytical and quantitative skills
• Experience conducting RCTs or other research in a developing country
• Experience with a statistical analysis package such as R, Python, or Stata

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

Working Conditions: 

• This position will perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
• Requires the ability to work independently for periods of time.

Required Documents:

• Resume/CV (required)
• Transcripts (required)
• Writing sample (optional)

About the Unit:

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 and https://bfi.uchicago.edu/info-for/prep.

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.