[Hiring] Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist @University of Pennsylvania

Role Description

Seeking a pre-doc to work with Professor Corinne Low on projects related to workplace access and participation in the US and developing countries. Example of recent projects include:

• Running experiments to measure hiring bias among employers
• Examining changes in women’s labor force participation over time
• Studying the division of home production within the household
• Modeling the impact of assisted reproduction technology on careers

You will join Wharton’s Department of Business Economics and Public Policy (BEPP) and become part of a cohort of predoctoral research fellows. BEPP offers many opportunities for personal and professional development through learning new technical skills, attending seminars, and taking courses. In some instances, predoc RAs have become co-authors of academic papers.

Job responsibilities include:

• Performing a variety of statistical and econometric analyses
• Cleaning and analyzing data
• Writing research reports
• Conducting background research and literature reviews
• Identifying and obtaining secondary data
• Coding survey questionnaires
• Managing field activities
• Creating research briefs or materials to support public communication about research findings

Independent thinking, a thorough understanding of economics or related disciplines, an ability to manage work flows on multiple projects, and self-motivation are highly valued in performing these functions.

This is a challenging opportunity for an early-career professional who is passionate about social science research and has a strong desire to expand and deepen skills in economic research and quantitative data analysis. You will work closely with one or more of the professors, who will provide supervision on research and offer mentorship on academic development more broadly. You will also be encouraged to be an active part of the research community, within the BEPP department and in relevant Wharton research centers. We anticipate that the successful candidate would work in this position for 2 years, before going on to graduate programs or careers in Economics, Public Policy, or another quantitative social science.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, or a related quantitative discipline
• Previous experience as a research analyst or conducting independent research using statistical software such as STATA or R is preferred
• Ability to process and analyze large data sets and write reports
• Self-directed, intrinsically motivated, capacity to manage work independently and organize workflows across multiple projects

Requirements

• This is a full-time, limited-term position typically intended for recent graduates who are seeking predoctoral research experience
• The position is designed for a maximum duration of 2 years and cannot be extended beyond the initial term
• Annual salary is in the range of $57,000-61,000 plus benefits

Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition assistance for you, your spouse, and dependent children
• Generous retirement plans
• Substantial time away from work
• Long-term care insurance
• Wellness and work-life resources
• Professional and personal development resources
• Access to University resources and cultural activities
• Discounts and special services
• Flexible work hours
• Penn Home Ownership Services
• Adoption assistance