About the Position

The Reimagining the Economy Project, led by Professor Gordon Hanson and Professor Dani Rodrik (Harvard Kennedy School) is recruiting up to two full-time predoctoral research fellows to start in summer 2024. Research Fellows will support and collaborate on a series of projects related to the regional dimensions of inequality in the United States and other countries. The project entails constructing and analyzing novel data on the factors that make regional economies prosperous and resilient to economic shocks and the effectiveness of industrial, place-based, and other policies in helping regions adjust to adverse changes in economic conditions. Our related research includes analyses of combatting inequality, how to build economies that create better jobs, local labor market impacts of the China trade shock and the energy transition, and the political consequences of localized job loss.

The successful applicant will receive mentoring from faculty within a tight-knit research community at the Wiener Center and access to a broad range of activities at Harvard, including curated seminar series on economics and social policy, and inequality. Prior Fellows at the Malcolm Wiener Center have gone on to attend top-tier PhD programs in Economics and Public Policy.

Fellow positions are based in Cambridge, MA at the Harvard Kennedy School. Appointment terms for Fellows are for one year with the potential for a second-year renewal.

About the Wiener Center

The Malcolm Wiener Center is a vibrant intellectual community of faculty, master’s and PhD students, researchers, and administrative staff whose mission is to address pressing public policy questions through academic research, teaching, and policy outreach. The work of the Center covers the domains of health care, human services, criminal justice, labor markets, education, political and economic inequality, and urban development. The Wiener Center addresses pressing questions in these areas by carrying out research on important public policy issues, educating the next generation of academics and policy scholars, and ensuring that research and education are closely tied to and draw from policy and practice.

Research Fellow Responsibilities

  • Clean and manage large datasets
  • Work with policy practitioners to identify and document relevant public policy interventions
  • Conduct statistical analyses of data using Stata, R and Python
  • Prepare literature reviews, background research, data visualizations, and other content for grant proposals, academic papers, and policy briefs
  • Draft project reports, research protocols, and other project documents
  • Help organize events and workshops, write event reports

Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelors or master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, or other field involving substantial quantitative coursework
  • Prior experience as a research assistant or fellow in the fields of Economics, Public Policy, or Urban Development
  • Proficiency programming in Stata
  • Strong academic record
  • Strong interest in economics and public policy research
  • Excellent command of Microsoft Office suite (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
  • Strong written and oral communication skills

Preferred

  • Graduate-level coursework in Economics and Econometrics
  • Proficiency programming in R and Python
  • Proficiency in LaTeX

How to Apply

Visit the online application form and follow these instructions:

  • Enter your email, first name, and last name in the fields provided
  • Attach the following documents as a single PDF:
    •  CV (please list your GPA from all degrees completed)
    • Cover letter, which should include a detailed explanation of your experience with each stage of the research process and a description of various statistical and computer programs that you are  familiar with (e.g. STATA, SAS, Python, R, etc.)
    • Official or unofficial transcripts for all degrees earned
    • An excerpt from a single-authored academic writing sample, 5 pages or less
    • Brief coding sample in Stata
    • Contact information for three academic or professional references
  • We value having a diverse research team and encourage applications from women, people of color and from other groups which historically have been underrepresented in the field of economics. Authorization for work in the US is required.
  • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and will not be considered complete until all elements are received. The final application deadline is March 5, 2024. Applicants selected to move forward in the recruitment process may be required to complete a technical exercise and participate in multiple interviews.

Compensation and Benefits

Wiener Center Predoctoral Fellows receive a competitive salary and are eligible for Harvard University’s partially subsidized healthcare options in which an individual can enroll and purchase medical, dental, and vision insurance plans. Other benefits include life insurance, long-term disability, and tuition assistance program (after eligibility of service at Harvard). Fellows are also able to take advantage of a broad array of activities including academic seminars, Forums, networking opportunities and special events. The project will fund an opportunity to take a course during the first year. Most fellows opt for a course at Harvard Extension School.

Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow Opportunity
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