Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and life insurance

Tuition benefits

Retirement plans

Time off

Job summary

The University of Pennsylvania's Behavior Change for Good (BCFG) Initiative at the Wharton School is seeking a Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist to join a world-class team conducting large-scale field experiments that promote behavior change. This full-time, limited-term role targets recent graduates seeking predoctoral research experience.

The position spans two years (June 2, 2027–June 1, 2029) with an annual salary in the $50,000–$60,000 range plus benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 1-2 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Background in Economics, Psychology, Behavioral Economics, or Behavioral Science is preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, strong attention to detail, and experience with the Microsoft Office suite and digital communication and design applications (e.g., Twitter, Wordpress, Mailchimp, and Canva).

Responsibilities

• Coordinate significant multi-site research projects and communications for the initiative.
• Develop and implement research designs, conduct data analysis, and prepare research reports.
• Disseminate findings and support communications within Angela Duckworth's lab and the initiative.
• Handle administrative duties as needed; position contingent on continued funding.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Twitter

Wordpress

Mailchimp

Canva

Job description

Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer inPhiladelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research,and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranksamong the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & WorldReport survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provideopportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education,all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach toscholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been rankednationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbeswho named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city ofPhiladelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urbancampus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, andrecreational activities. With its historical significance andlandmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety ofatmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home forwork and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includesexcellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and theirfamilies, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety ofprofessional development opportunities, supportive work and familybenefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources,and much more.

Posted Job Title

Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary

The Behavior Change for Good (BCFG) Initiative at the University ofPennsylvania, led by Professors Katherine Milkman and AngelaDuckworth, is conducting large-scale field experiments designed topromote behavior change across multiple domains. Our world-classteam of scientific experts test and improve behavior changeprograms by incorporating the latest insights from their researchinto massive random-assignment experiments. We have formedpartnerships with some of the world's largest organizations toreach millions of their students and customers. This is a full-time, limited-term position typically intended forrecent graduates who are seeking predoctoral research experience. The position is designed for a duration of 2 years and cannot beextended beyond the initial term. The term for this position isJune 2, 2027-June 1, 2029. Annual salary is in the range of$50,000-60,000 plus benefits.

Job Description

The Predoc Research and Communications Coordinator will workclosely with BCFG leadership on the conducting of behavior changeinterventions across a wide variety of settings and managing theinitiative's communications efforts (including those of BCFGCo-Directors Professors Katherine Milkman and Angela Duckworth).The Research and Communications Coordinator will manage andcoordinate significant multi-site research projects and thecommunication of the findings from these projects. This positionentails developing and implementing research designs, conductingdata analysis, preparing research reports, and preparing anddisseminating communications. They will also support research andcommunications within Angela Duckworth's lab. The Research andCommunication Coordinator will also handle some administrativeduties for the initiative. Position is contingent on continuedfunding.

Recent papers that BCFG Predoctoral Researchers have contributed to include:

• Duckworth, et al. (2025). A national megastudy shows that emailnudges to elementary school teachers boost student mathachievement, particularly when personalized. Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences.
• Milkman, et al. (2024). Megastudy shows that reminders boostvaccination but adding free rides does not. Nature.
• Milkman, et al. (2022). A citywide experiment testing theimpact of geographically targeted, high-pay-off vaccine lotteries.Nature Human Behavior.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree with 1-2 years of related experience orequivalent combination of education and experience. A background inEconomics, Psychology, Behavioral Economics, or Behavioral Scienceis preferred. The ideal candidate will have excellentinterpersonal, organizational and communication skills, strongattention to detail, and experience with the Microsoft Office suiteand digital communication and design applications (e.g., Twitter,Wordpress, Mailchimp, and Canva). The anticipated start date forthis position is June 2024.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$45,278.00 - $50,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications,experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to therequirements of the position, and in alignment with salary rangesbased on external market data for the job's level. Internalorganization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer ismade. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to therequirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Pennoffers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and yourfamily's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spendingaccounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent careexpenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuitionbenefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can gettuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are alsoeligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans tohelp you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, andSupplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on apre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investmentoptions through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with asubstantial amount of time away from work during the course of theyear. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personalaffairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time withfamily-whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with GenworthFinancial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible familymembers) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of thecosts of long-term care services received at home, in the communityor in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, youwon't have to provide proof of good health or be subject tounderwriting requirements. Eligible family members must alwaysprovide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed tosupporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competingdemands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a widevariety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides anarray of resources to help you advance yourself personally andprofessionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,you have access to a wide range of University resources as well ascultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of theUniversity's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit ourarboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on atPenn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latestmusic or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the PennRelays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a memberof the Penn community, you're right in the middle of theexcitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of theseactivities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts andentertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find greatdeals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts andcultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admissionand memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoysubstantial savings on other goods and services such as new carsfrom Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movietickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offercreative approaches for completing work while promoting balancebetween work and personal commitments. These approaches involve useof non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or jobstructures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivableloan for eligible employees interested in buying a home orcurrently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used forclosing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligibleemployees on qualified expenses in connection with the legaladoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for upto two adoptions in your household.