Research Professional – International Economics and Economic Geography Initiative (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

Job Title: Research Professional (RP) 

Location: Chicago, IL 

Salary Ranges: $59,000–62,000 with an additional $2,000 professional development stipend

Terms: Seeking a Research Professional for a period of at least one but ideally two years 

Reporting to: Brent Neiman, Milena Almagro, and Rohan Kekre

Expected Start Date: ​7/1/2025​, with flexibility

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.

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 international finance, macro, and spatial economics. The Research Professional will primarily work under the guidance of Professors Brent Neiman, Rohan Kekre, and Milena Almagro. 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 2025 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, 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. 

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. 

 
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:

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

Experience:

• Experience in with statistics and econometrics.
• Working as a research assistant.

Analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods or machine learning techniques.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Stata, Python, Matlab, Julia, or R required
• Knowledge of Git and LaTeX helpful

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)
• Professional References (three is preferred, two are required)

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.