Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia seeks a Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist to lead communications and research coordination for the BCFG initiative. The role focuses on designing experiments, analyzing data, and disseminating findings to partners and the public.

The position is a full-time, limited-term appointment for two years, with a salary range of $45,278 to $50,000 and comprehensive benefits. Start date is June 2024, based in the Wharton School.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 1-2 years of related experience preferred.
• Background in Economics, Psychology, Behavioral Economics, or Behavioral Science preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills; attention to detail.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and digital design tools (Twitter, Wordpress, Mailchimp, Canva).

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Predoc Research and Communications initiatives across multiple sites.
• Develop and implement research designs and conduct data analysis.
• Prepare research reports and disseminate findings to stakeholders.
• Support the lab and manage some administrative duties for the initiative.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Twitter

WordPress

Mailchimp

Canva

Job description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023. Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play. The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, 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 of Pennsylvania, led by Professors Katherine Milkman and Angela Duckworth, is conducting large-scale field experiments designed to promote behavior change across multiple domains. Our world-class team of scientific experts test and improve behavior change programs by incorporating the latest insights from their research into massive random-assignment experiments. We have formed partnerships with some of the world's largest organizations to reach millions of their students and customers.

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 duration of 2 years and cannot be extended beyond the initial term. The term for this position is June 2, 2027-June 1, 2029. Annual salary is in the range of $50,000-60,000 plus benefits.

The Predoc Research and Communications Coordinator will work closely with BCFG leadership on the conducting of behavior change interventions across a wide variety of settings and managing the initiative's communications efforts (including those of BCFG Co-Directors Professors Katherine Milkman and Angela Duckworth). The Research and Communications Coordinator will manage and coordinate significant multi-site research projects and the communication of the findings from these projects. This position entails developing and implementing research designs, conducting data analysis, preparing research reports, and preparing and disseminating communications. They will also support research and communications within Angela Duckworth's lab. The Research and Communication Coordinator will also handle some administrative duties for the initiative. Position is contingent on continued funding.

Recent papers that BCFG Predoctoral Researchers have contributed to include:

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

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree with 1-2 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. A background in Economics, Psychology, Behavioral Economics, or Behavioral Science is preferred. The ideal candidate will have 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). The anticipated start date for this 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 the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization 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), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family - whatever your personal needs you may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family,