MSCI Institute Senior Researcher

MSCI Inc; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

MSCI Institute seeks a Senior Researcher to shape and deliver its research program. The role blends rigorous, data-driven analysis with high-visibility external engagement, guiding flagship publications and major client conversations.

Reporting to senior leadership, you will own research priorities, collaborate across MSCI teams, and engage with academics and policymakers to elevate MSCI’s thought leadership and brand in global capital markets.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in finance, economics, engineering, applied mathematics, data science or related field.
• Experience owning research end-to-end from problem formulation to external promotion.
• 2+ years in MSCI or equivalent research/market-facing roles.
• Strong analytical rigor with external engagement experience.

Responsibilities

• Set and own the Institute’s research agenda within their domain.
• Develop flagship publications, client briefings, and thought leadership.
• Lead cross-functional projects across research, product, technology, marketing, and commercial teams.
• Organize closed-door roundtables, workshops, and dialogues with investors, academics, and policymakers.
• Engage with leading academics and policymakers to exchange ideas and strengthen MSCI’s credibility.
• Represent MSCI externally in senior client meetings and industry forums.

Skills

Python

R

AI/ML in finance

Data visualization

Research leadership

Communication

Education

Advanced degree in finance, economics, engineering, applied mathematics, data science

Job description

The MSCI Institute is entering a new phase of growth. Building on its strong foundation of exploratory research and collaboration, the Institute is expanding its thematic scope and deepening its influence with academics, policymakers, and leading NGO and industry groups shaping global capital markets. The Institute’s mission is to produce rigorous, data-driven research that not only informs investors, but also helps frame how markets, policy, and long-term capital allocation evolve.

To support this ambition, the Institute is seeking a Senior Researcher to play a central role in shaping and delivering its research agenda. This is a highly strategic role for an experienced MSCI researcher who is motivated by intellectual impact, external influence, and the opportunity to help define the Institute’s next phase.

This position represents a career-defining growth opportunity. The Senior Researcher will work closely with a small, high-performing core team under the direction of Linda-Eling Lee and Dan Cremin, with significant autonomy to set research priorities, design original work, and engage directly with senior external stakeholders. The role combines deep analytical research with visible external engagement —supporting flagship publications, senior client and stakeholder conversations, academic collaboration, and policy dialogue — while providing a platform to meaningfully expand one’s external profile and thought leadership footprint.

For the right candidate, this role offers unusual scope: intellectual freedom, direct access to senior MSCI leadership, and the chance to influence debates well beyond MSCI, while remaining grounded in the firm’s unparalleled data, research capabilities, and global client relationships.

The Senior Researcher will have end-to-end ownership of research initiatives within their domain, from agenda setting through external impact. Key responsibilities include:

• Set and own the Institute’s research agenda within their domain, with end-to-end accountability for intellectual direction, analytical integrity, and external relevance. This includes identifying priority themes, framing the right research questions, and leading the design, execution, and delivery of original, high-impact research, often in collaboration with external partners as well as MSCI experts acting as Institute fellows. (Institute fellows here).
• Develop and promote Institute flagship publications, client briefings, and thought leadership that shape external debate, support senior client engagement, and elevate MSCI’s intellectual profile and brand value. (Example: Transition Finance Tracker; What the Market Thinks )
• Lead cross-functional projects from concept to delivery, coordinating contributors across research, product, technology, marketing, and commercial teams while maintaining analytical rigor, speed of execution, and strategic relevance. (Example project: Theory Meets Practice series)
• Organize and curate closed-door roundtables, workshops, and dialogues that bring together investors, academics, and policymakers, using evidence and data to anchor discussion and position MSCI as a neutral, trusted convenor. (Examples of roundtable events: Sao Paolo pre-COP; NY Climate Week)
• Engage directly with leading academics and policymakers to exchange ideas, test assumptions, and strengthen MSCI’s credibility, visibility, and trust as an independent authority on financial markets and systemic trends. (Example: Columbia University research exchange)
• Represent MSCI externally in senior client meetings, roundtables, and industry forums, contributing to the Institute’s reach and reinforcing MSCI’s broader brand value.

Academic and Professional Background

• Demonstrated ability and strong motivation to bridge academic or theoretical rigor with practitioner insight.
• Advanced degree in finance, economics, engineering, applied mathematics, data science, or a related analytical or quantitative field.
• Strong grounding in finance and market theory, complemented by sustained exposure to real-world markets through regular, substantive interaction with MSCI clients.
• Proven track record of owning research and/or methodology development end to end, from problem formulation and methodology design through analysis, narrative development, and external promotion.

Mindset and Career Stage

• Typically 2+ years of experience within MSCI (Index, Analytics, or Multi-Asset-Class research preferred), or equivalent experience combining deep MSCI collaboration with strong external research or market-facing roles.
• Mid- to senior-level (VP) individual at MSCI with track record of consistent delivery; trusted to operate independently on high-visibility initiatives.
• Motivated by intellectual impact rather than narrow role definition, with the drive to shape MSCI’s external thought leadership and amplify MSCI’s brand value.
• Likes moving fast under uncertainty; agile and adaptable, with the ability to operate in evolving problem spaces without established playbooks.
• Strongly execution-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to deliver projects, content, and insights quickly and to a high standard.
• Naturally curious, with a habit of scanning for new themes emerging across markets, policy debates, academic research, and client conversations.

Knowledge and Skills

• Experience accessing multiple MSCI datasets, models, and core solutions across products and regions (e.g., Indexes, Barra); ability to synthesize insights across platforms.
• Proficiency in Python or R; working knowledge of AI and machine learning as applied to financial markets.
• Uncompromising on accuracy and analytical integrity; rigorous fact-checker with strong attention to detail.
• Strong visualization and graphical skills are a major plus.

Communication and Collaboration

• Strong storyteller, both written and verbal; ability to combine MSCI data and external sources into compelling narratives. Confident communicator, i.e. the ‘face of the Institute’ in their domain online and in industry forums.
• Strong presentation skills, delivered to senior, technical, and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to work effectively across research, product, technology, marketing, and commercial teams, with strong interpersonal relationships across functions and products at MSCI.