Full‐Time Economics Term Research Assistant

Job Description (Laibson/Madrian/Choi/Beshears)

Economics professors David Laibson (Harvard University), Brigitte Madrian (Brigham Young University), James Choi (Yale University), and John Beshears (Harvard Business School) are hiring a full‐time research assistant to start work in mid-June 2021. This position will last until mid-July 2022 or mid-July 2023 and will involve work on theoretical and empirical research related to behavioral economics, decision making, savings, and health behaviors. The research uses field data, experimental data, and hybrid field experiments.

For examples of our research, see our faculty pages:

• https://scholar.harvard.edu/laibson/home
• https://marriottschool.byu.edu/directory/details?id=63227
• http://som.yale.edu/james-choi
• http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=8943

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Performing statistical analyses on large databases
2. Designing and running experiments
3. Programming simulations of theoretical models
4. Proving theoretical results

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree by start date (required)
2. Strong programming and quantitative skills, including coursework in multivariable calculus, matrix algebra, probability, and statistics (required)
3. Previous experience estimating econometric models (strongly preferred)
4. Interest in applying to a quantitative PhD program and pursuing an academic career (strongly preferred)

We prefer research assistants who want to become professional economists, but we're interested in future PhDs in any quantitative field. Our past full‐time RAs have enrolled in the following PhD programs: Harvard economics (13), Harvard business economics (5), Harvard public policy (1), MIT economics (8), MIT operations research (1), Princeton economics (1), University of Chicago GSB – finance (2), University of Chicago GSB – economics (2), University of Chicago history (1), UC Berkeley economics (1), Yale economics (1), and Columbia economics (1)

Application Process:

1. Submit a single PDF containing your (1) cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for the position, (2) resume, and (3) unofficial transcript using the link above. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
2. Qualified applicants will be invited to complete a data analysis task to demonstrate quantitative and programming proficiency.
3. Highly-qualified applicants will be invited to interview with our team and provide up to 3 references.

Visa sponsorship is available.

OTHER DETAILS

Wage – $56,500                                                                     

Location – Cambridge, MA

Start Date – 6/14/2021 (negotiable)

EMPLOYER PROFILE

Founded in 1920, the National Bureau of Economic Research is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works. The NBER is committed to undertaking and disseminating unbiased economic research among public policymakers, business professionals, and the academic community. The NBER is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. The NBER will make reasonable accommodation for any disabled applicant, and will provide assistance to disabled applicants as needed during the application process.