Research Assistant - Economics

Povertyactionlab; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 57,308,000 - 63,039,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is seeking a Research Assistant to support randomized evaluations under Professor Anant Nyshadham and collaborating researchers. The RA will contribute to two U.S.-based projects on AI-assisted job matching and cash incentives for unsheltered populations.

This full-time, remote (U.S.) role offers hands-on training in empirical research, study design, data collection, fieldwork, and policy brief preparation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or related field.
• Experience with data analysis using Stata or R.
• Experience conducting fieldwork and surveys.
• Proficient with MS Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with data science concepts and AI coding platforms.

Responsibilities

• Support study design through scoping exercises, qualitative surveys, and literature reviews.
• Design and pilot survey instruments; monitor data quality and resolve issues promptly.
• Expand simulated task assessments for AI-assisted job matching project using prior task repository.
• Conduct fieldwork and travel to project sites occasionally.
• Liaise with implementation partners to align timelines and troubleshoot.
• Coordinate with administrative and finance teams on participant payments and study costs.
• Identify threats to research design and propose solutions to researchers as needed.
• Ensure adherence to research and data protocols, including IRB approval, coding standards, and analysis procedures.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation — codebooks, field protocols, and project logs.

Skills

Stata

R

Fieldwork

Survey design

AI platforms

Travel

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Economics/Statistics/Public Policy/Development Studies

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Job description

Please note, the selected candidate will be employed by the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), and the candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

About the role:

Research Assistants (RAs) are integral to the success of randomized evaluations. Working closely with Professor Anant Nyshadham and collaborating economists and researchers across other universities, the RA will support all stages of the research process across two U.S.-based projects:

• AI-assisted job search and matching: Research on using algorithmic matching to connect low-income jobseekers to local vacancies — widening the scope of job search across sectors and improving matching to jobs in which candidates may have no prior experience. This research builds on our prior work on AI-directed job search, which you can read about here.
• Cash incentives and continuity of care: Research investigating the effects of small cash incentives on continuity of care among the unsheltered population in the Los Angeles region.

This position is well-suited for candidates looking to develop empirical research skills in preparation for PhD programs in economics.

Location

Location : Remote (U.S.)

Remuneration

Remuneration : $20-$22/hour, full-time, 6–12 month contract

Application Deadline

Application Deadline : 3 weeks from the date of posting

Start Date

Start Date : Immediate or as soon as possible

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support study design through scoping exercises, qualitative surveys, and literature reviews
• Design and pilot survey instruments; monitor data quality and resolve issues promptly
• Expand the set of simulated task assessments for various occupations, by referencing the repository of simulated tasks from the prior trial, as part of the AI-assisted job matching project. These are online exercises through which candidates demonstrate occupation‑specific skills, used as part of the study's evaluation approach.
• Conduct fieldwork and travel to project sites occasionally
• Liaise with implementation partners to align timelines, share updates, and troubleshoot challenges
• Coordinate with administrative and finance teams on participant payments and study‑related costs
• Identify threats to research design, propose solutions, and escal… to researchers as needed
• Ensure adherence to research and data protocols, including IRB approval, coding standards, and analysis procedures
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation — codebooks, field protocols, and project logs — to academic standards of transparency and reproducibility
• Prepare policy memos and research briefs on ongoing and completed studies

Who are you?

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software such as Stata or R
• Experience conducting fieldwork, including designing, scoping, and fielding surveys
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel/spreadsheet applications
• Strong familiarity with data science principles and AI coding platforms (e.g., Claude Code, Codex/GPT), among others.
• Strong organizational and self‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects independently and meet deadlines
• Detail‑oriented with strong written and oral communication skills
• Experience with digital data collection platforms such as SurveyCTO is preferred but not required
• Willingness to travel occasionally to project sites

Additional Requirements

What should you be comfortable with?

• A dynamic environment with competing priorities
• Working in a team with shared responsibilities
• Independently coordinating with coworkers to accomplish goals
• Being resourceful in new environments and scenarios
• Problem‑solving in high‑pressure environments
• Adapting your approach, being focused on the problem and not being stuck to one idea or way of solving a problem.

The process

We are glad you’re interested in applying for this role!

After each step, we decide whether to invite you to the next one. The screening process takes approximately 4–6 weeks from the application deadline and includes the following stages:

• CV screening
• Data test
• First‑round interview
• Second‑round interview

Depending on the candidate pool, we may add any additional interviews to make a well thought through decision.