The University of Chicago

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

The Harris School of Public Policy seeks applicants for a one-year Research Professional position to be part of the Pearson Institute.

The ideal candidate will have core interests in human behavior/decision-making particularly as it applies to business strategy, and/or organizational decision-making. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Professor James Robinson.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the research effort.
• Assist in planning, conducting, and analysis of semi-structured interviews.
• Prepares, cleans, and analyzes interview and survey data.
• Contributes to the preparation of high-quality journal articles and presents results at conferences and stakeholder events.
• 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.
• Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Installs, sets up and performs experiments; interacting with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

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

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Work Experience:

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

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Statistics or related disciplines.

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.
• 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.

Preferred Competencies

• Proven ability to work effectively in small teams, demonstrating a strong desire to both learn from and mentor other team members.
• 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 (preferred)
• References (preferred)

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

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, 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.

Staff 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.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

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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