Research Professional – Rodrigo Adao, Juanma Castro-Vincenzi, Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, and Visiting Professor Brian Greaney (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

Job Title: Research Professional (RP) 

Location: Chicago, IL 

Salary Ranges: $55,000–62,000 annual salary, additional $2,000 professional development fund. 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.

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

Projects: Projects related to spatial economics and economic geography

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2026 

Department: Becker Friedman Institute  

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.

Job Summary 

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work with Visiting Professor Brian Greaney and UChicago Professors Adao, Castro-Vincenzi and Rossi-Hansberg on ongoing and new research projects related to spatial economics and economic geography. Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2026 and available to begin work in summer 2026.

The Research Professional’s responsibilities will be integral to the projects of the Spatial Dynamics Incubator within the Kenneth C. Griffin Applied Economics Incubator, and will span all stages of research, including collecting and processing tabular and spatial data, developing data pipelines, conducting econometric analysis, running structural simulations, and contributing to manuscripts and presentations. A central component of the role will be the development and maintenance of efficient, well-structured, and fully reproducible code to advance quantitative research in spatial economics and economic geography.

Unit-Specific Responsibilities

• Leads the development and maintenance of scalable, well-documented, and reproducible computational infrastructure for quantitative modeling and simulation in spatial economics and economic geography.
• Cleans and analyzes data.
• Writes or finalizes replicable data files or scripts for publication.
• Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures.
• Assists with writing data analysis plans and contributes to preparing study registration documents.
• Supports the implementation of field experiments including supporting the design and implementation of surveys, and monitoring the quality of data collected, when needed.
• Supports with writing of grant and policy reports and assists with drafting presentations of research findings.
• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.
• 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.

Unit-preferred Competencies

• Experience in econometrics.
• Advanced coursework in Economics or Mathematics.
• Strong programming skills in multiple languages such as Python, MATLAB, or Julia, with the ability to write efficient, well-documented, and reproducible code.
• Familiarity in analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques in data analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis packages such as Stata, R, or Python.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

• Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Computer Science, Data Science, or a closely related field.

Experience

• Previous research assistance experience contributing meaningfully to faculty research.
• Advanced knowledge of research techniques and methods in relevant scientific field.

Academic Background

• Dual degree or strong coursework in Economics and Computer Science, or completion of interdisciplinary programs such as computational social science, econometrics-intensive data science, or economics-oriented CS programs
• Graduate work emphasizing quantitative methods, machine learning, or computational economics is a plus

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Strong programming skills in multiple languages such as Python, MATLAB, or Julia, with the ability to write efficient, well-documented, and reproducible code.
• Familiarity in analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques in data analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis packages such as Stata, R, or Python.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Writing Sample (required)
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) (required)
• Two Professional References (required)

About the Department  

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community. 

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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