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Department
Harris School Pre-Docs, Temps and Non-Student Research Assistants
About the Department
Job Summary
Pre-Doctoral Fellows will collaborate on research projects that further build the CID and use it to transform our understanding of economic well-being in the United States.
Pre-Doctoral Fellows work closely with Professor Meyer and a core team of Ph.D. researchers – Derek Wu (University of Virginia) and Angela Wyse (Dartmouth College) – in all stages of the research process. Other researchers you may work with at the CID Project include Nikolas Mittag (CERGE-EI), James Sullivan (University of Notre Dame), and graduate students at the University of Chicago. As a fellow, you will link large and novel datasets to the CID; use cutting-edge statistical techniques to create more accurate measures of income and material deprivation; conduct sophisticated empirical analyses that have the potential to transform our understanding of economic well-being, poverty and highly vulnerable populations; prepare presentations and manuscripts; interact with outside academic experts and policy leaders involved with CID projects; and ultimately, coauthor papers submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
The Pre-Doctoral Fellow position is ideal preparation for top Ph.D. programs in economics and related fields. Previous fellows have gone on to attend Ph.D. programs at Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, the University of California Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin, as well as obtain a Rhodes Scholarship.
We seek Pre-Doctoral Fellow candidates who not only have exceptional technical skills and a proven ability to creatively tackle difficult empirical problems, but who are also passionate about advancing our understanding of some of the most deprived segments of the U.S. population and the programs that serve them. Furthermore, because our work is both highly challenging and necessarily collaborative, it is imperative that Pre-Doctoral Fellows be able to thrive in a team-based environment.
Responsibilities
Pre-Doctoral Fellows will collaborate on research projects that further build the CID and use it to transform our understanding of economic well-being in the United States.
Perform routine assignments related to scientific research projects.
Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.
Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures.
Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates.
Writes articles, reports and manuscripts.
Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
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:
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics or related disciplines.
Willingness and ability to obtain Special Sworn Status (requires 3 years of US residence within past 5 years) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Experience:
Previous research experience.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
Proficiency in Stata; ability to use other statistical software packages (e.g., SAS, R, or Python).
Significant coursework or experience in programming.
Preferred Competencies
Strong interest in understanding poverty and issues affecting vulnerable populations.
Proven ability to work effectively in small teams, demonstrating a strong desire to both learn from and mentor other team members.
Drive and ability to develop a detailed understanding of areas ranging from cutting-edge econometric techniques to institutional details related to marginalized populations.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
High attention to detail and quality in data analysis and written material.
Significant knowledge of statistics and/or empirical economics research.
Demonstrated ability to review and prioritize work independently and effectively.
Demonstrated ability to be resourceful and creative in problem-solving.
Working Conditions
Pre-Doctoral Fellows will be based out of Chicago, IL.
Application Documents
Resume (required)
Cover Letter (required)
Reference Contact Information (required)
Writing Sample (required)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Role Impact
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Drug Test Required
Health Screen Required
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Pay Rate Type
FLSA Status
Pay Range
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
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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