Research Specialist

Department

SSD: Economics - Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department

For over a century, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics has been recognized as one of the world's leading centers for economic research and education. The Department's faculty have received numerous awards, including more Nobel Prize laureates and John Bates Clark medalists in economics than any other university. Among our faculty are many members of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Econometric Society.

Job Summary

Reporting to Professor Ufuk Akcigit, the Research Specialist (RS) will support research on a variety of topics related to the economics of innovation and entrepreneurship, and economic growth. The Research Specialist will also be a part of the vibrant research environment of the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago.

Responsibilities

• Deploys NLP models for textual analysis from multiple databases.
• Calculates firm productivities using a variety of datasets.
• Presents research findings at staff meetings, seminars and conferences.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

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

Work Experience:

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

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Economics, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field. 

Experience:

• Research experience, such as writing a senior thesis or at least two years of employment as a research assistant.
• Fluency with Stata.
• Fluency with Python.
• Familiarity with or ability to learn Matlab.

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge in relevant scientific field.
• Problem solving skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to learn new research techniques or methods.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Computational and analytical skills.

Application  Documents

• Cover letter (preferred)
• CV/resume (required)
• References(required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$59,000.00 - $62,000.00

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.

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.

Posting Statement

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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