Pre-doctoral Research fellow (F/M/D)

L'Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement recrute un/une Pre-doctoral Research fellow (F/M/D) .

DUREE DU CONTRAT : Maximum duration contract (for one year with the possibility of renewal)

TAUX D'ACTIVITE : 90 %

The newly created Hoffmann Centre for Global Sustainability (HCGS) at the Geneva Graduate Institute invites applications for a pre-doctoral research fellow position. We are seeking a motivated, independent and highly skilled Research Assistant (“predoc”) to work with Prof. Julia Cajal-Grossi (Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Hoffmann Center for Global Sustainability), supporting ongoing research in international trade, economic development and industrial organization. The ideal candidate would be interested in these topics and looking to develop their quantitative and research skills, prior to joining a top PhD program in Economics.

The predoc will perform a variety of tasks, including but not limited to:

• Assembly and consolidation of datasets (administrative, survey-based, and other);
• Cleaning, curation and documentation of data;
• Coding of surveys;
• Production of quantitative analysis, including descriptives, summary statistics and more complex econometric analysis;
• Supporting the organization of events and the hosting of visitors;
• Developing technical reports and policy briefs;
• Preparing presentations for an academic audience and for relevant stakeholders;
• Editing of research papers and other texts;
• Conducting general desk-research;
• Supporting the writing of applications and reports for funding agencies;
• Managing field activities (may require travel);
• Collaborating on the workflow of temporary / junior research assistants;
• Liaising with coauthors and participating in regular online or in-person meetings with various collaborators;
• Engaging with policy and civil society stakeholders, among others.

The predoc should have completed a Master or Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in economics or a closely related field. Prior experience on quantitative data analysis is required, and the candidate should demonstrate strong quantitative and data analysis skills. High proficiency in the use of Stata and Latex is an exclusionary requirement, and expedience with Python and/or Matlab, and/or Julia, and/or web-scraping, and/or geocoding (GIS, etc.) are desirable but not a requirement. Fluency in written and spoken English, as well as excellent communication skills are required. The predoc should be able to manage their own areas of responsibility independently, and be able to organize workload and work effectively under multiple tight deadlines.

The position entails the predoc covering the tasks above with a 90% dedication. The predoc is invited to spend 10% of their time attending classes at the Master or PhD level in Economics and the Institute. The selection of courses or seminars to attend is to be discussed with Prof. Cajal-Grossi and subject to prior authorization by the course leader. More broadly, the predoc will have the opportunity to engage in the intellectual life of the Economics Department and the Hoffmann Centre for Global Sustainability (HCGS). The newly created HCGS will position itself as one of the leading research and policy hubs in Europe dedicated to the study of global sustainability. Past predocs working with Prof. Cajal-Grossi and her collaborators continued to successfully apply to top doctoral programs in the United States and Europe.

The position is for one year with the possibility of renewal depending on performance. The predoc will be based at the HCGS of the Geneva Graduate Institute, in Geneva, Switzerland (with the exception of occasional travel). The ideal start date is 02 September 2024, but flexibility around this can be accommodated.

The recruitment process involves the evaluation of the application package as well interviews with Prof. Cajal-Grossi and potentially with collaborators and/or members of a selection committee. Shortlisted candidates will also be asked to sit (remotely) a proficiency test on Stata and Latex. Details on this test will be provided to relevant candidates in due course.

Responsibilities:

• Assembly and consolidation of datasets (administrative, survey-based, and other);
• Cleaning, curation and documentation of large-scale databases;
• Coding of surveys;
• Production of quantitative analysis, including descriptives, summary statistics and more complex econometric analysis;
• Identifying appropriate methods of investigation or analysis according to data and objectives;
• Conveying complex conceptual ideas or complex information which may be highly detailed, technical or specialist;
• Supporting the organization and running of events and the hosting of visitors;
• Developing technical reports and policy briefs;
• Preparing presentations for an academic audience and for relevant stakeholders;
• Support in the preparation of pedagogical and outreach materials;
• Editing of research papers and other texts;
• Conducting general desk-research, including the preparation of literature reviews, and the support in the elaboration of scholarly publications;
• Curation and preparation of replication files and miscellaneous code;
• Supporting the writing of applications and reports for funding agencies;
• Managing field activities (may require travel);
• Collaborating on the workflow of temporary / junior research assistants;
• Liaising with coauthors and participating in regular online or in-person meetings with various collaborators;
• Engaging with policy and civil society stakeholders, among others.

Qualifications:

• Completed Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in economics or a closely related field;
• Prior experience on quantitative data analysis;
• Strong quantitative and data analysis skills;
• Interest in academic research and intention to pursue a PhD in economics;
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities;
• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• High proficiency in the use of Stata and Latex;
• Experience with Python and/or Matlab, and/or Julia, and/or web-scraping, and/or geocoding (GIS, etc.) are desirable but not a requirement.

Salary and Benefits:

The predoctoral fellow will receive a competitive salary, commensurate with similar pre-doctoral positions at other universities.

What we offer:

• Individual mentoring and collaboration on research projects;
• Collaboration and teamwork with an international team of researchers;
• Possibility to attend Master- or PhD-level classes;
• Mentoring in the process of application to doctoral programs.

Please send an application file containing:

• A brief motivation letter, describing the interest of the candidate in the position and long-term career plans;
• A detailed CV;
• A sample of writing (can be a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, a piece of work for a past course assignment, a writing piece from previous RAships, so long as the candidate is the author, etc.);
• A sample of Stata code written by the candidate (no data is required);
• A copy of university degree certificates, alongside a copy of the official transcripts;
• The name and contact details of a minimum of two and a maximum of three references.

We kindly ask you to submit your application file either in PDF format, in English.

Experiences outside of the academic world will also be valued in the assessment of applications, and gaps in the CV due to family or health conditions will be taken into account. Members of minoritized groups in academia are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please reach out to Prof. Julia Cajal-Grossi (julia.cajal@graduateinstitute.ch) for any queries regarding the project and the scientific profile of this position. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our institution. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, marital status, disability status, race, national origin, color, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

For more information, candidates are encouraged to consult the Institute's website: graduateinstitute.ch.

Please note that offers received by post will not be considered.