Research Professional – Evan Rose and Manasi Deshpande (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

Job Title: Research Professional (RP)

Location: Chicago, IL

Salary Ranges: $59,000–62,000 annual salary, additional $2,000 professional development fund

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

Expected Start Date: Summer 2027

Department: Becker Friedman Institute

Job Summary

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire multiple full-time Research Professionals to work with Professor Evan Rose or Manasi Deshpande on ongoing and new research projects related to applied econometrics, labor and public economics. Applicants must be available to begin work in Summer 2027.

Successful candidates will work directly with Professor Evan Rose or Manasi Deshpande and co-authors as part of BFI's Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP). The position entails collaboration on new and ongoing research projects, with specialization in using applied microeconometric techniques to analyze labor markets and social policy in developed economies, including (but not limited to) 1) understanding changes in labor demand (e.g., international competition and trade, regulation and firm dynamics), 2) understanding labor supply (e.g., household labor supply, barriers to geographical and occupational mobility), 3) understanding the determination of the labor market equilibrium, 4) understanding the role of policy and institutions (e.g., the insurance and incentive effects of social insurance and safety net programs, quantifying monopsony power and implications), and 5) understanding interactions between labor markets and the criminal justice system (e.g., effects of economic shocks on crime and recidivism).

The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Former Research Professionals have been admitted to PhD programs at the highest ranked economics programs in the US.

Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree by June 2027 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Julia, Python, and/or Matlab. The ideal candidate work for BFI for two years before applying to graduate school in Economics or another quantitative social science. BFI offers competitive salary and employee benefits.

Unit-specific Responsibilities:

Unit-preferred Competencies:

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Experience: 3 months to 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:

Preferred Competencies

Application Documents

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.

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