Research Professional – Koichiro Ito (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) invites applications for a Research Professional to support Koichiro Ito in evaluating energy and environmental policies across multiple countries. Responsibilities include data collection, cleaning, statistical analyses, simulations, and preparing manuscripts and presentations.

The role offers a bridge to graduate studies, with opportunities to attend EPIC, the University of Chicago, and affiliate seminars; many alumni advance to top

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Experience with Stata, Python, Matlab, and/or R.
• 3 months to one year of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Experience in econometrics.
• Advanced coursework in Economics or Mathematics.
• Familiarity with analyzing large data sets and econometrics methods.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques in data analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis packages such as Stata, R, or Python.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Cleans and analyzes data.
• Writes or finalizes replicable data files or scripts for publication.
• Ensures compliance of research activities with regulations and procedures; analyzes possible solutions.
• Assists with writing data analysis plans and study registration documents.
• Supports field experiments, including survey design and data quality monitoring.
• Assist with drafting grant and policy reports and presenting research findings.
• Transcribes and codes data; develops data collection instruments; presents research; recruits and schedules research subjects.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens; conducts literature reviews; prepares reports and manuscripts.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Skills

Stata

Python

Matlab

R

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Job Title: Research Professional – Koichiro Ito (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

Location: Chicago, IL – Hyde Park Campus, Saieh Hall

Expected: Start Date: Summer 2027

For questions about this position, please email [e-mail]

About the Department

The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) produces data-driven research that advances society’s understanding of the global energy challenge and translates research insights into real-world impacts through strategic outreach and training for the next generation of global energy leaders.EPIC’spre-doctoral fellowship program serves as a one- or two-year bridge program between college and a doctoral program. Recipients gain an in-depth understanding of the entire research process while undergoing intensive career development as part of a close-knit community. Learn more at https://epic.uchicago.edu/about/jobs-fellowships/fellowships/predoctoral-fellows/predoctoral-fellowship-program/about/.

Job Summary

The Research Professional will report toKoichiro Ito, Professor atUniversityof Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Research projects will focus on evaluating various energy and environmentalpoliciesin the US, Japan, China, India, Chile, and other countries by using a variety of methods such as randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental research design, and structural estimation.

The Research Professional’s responsibilities will span all stages of research, including collecting data of in both tabular and spatial formats, developing algorithms that clean and organize data, conducting statistical analyses, running simulations, and preparing manuscripts and presentations.

In addition to working closely with faculty as research assistants, pre-doctoral fellows typically attend classes and seminars at EPIC, the University of Chicago, and affiliate institutions. The program is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. People in this or similar positions have gone on to Economics Ph.D. programs at Harvard, MIT, University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley, and similar schools upon completion of this program.

Responsibilities

• Cleans and analyzes data.
• Writes orfinalizesreplicable data files or scripts for publication.
• Ensures complianceofresearch activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.Analyzespossible solutionsusing standard procedures.
• Assists with writing data analysis plans and contributes to preparing study registration documents.
• Supports the implementation of fieldexperimentsincluding supporting the design and implementation of surveys, andmonitoringthe quality of datacollected,when needed.
• Supports withwriting of grant and policy reports and assists with drafting presentations of research findings.
• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Analyzes andmaintainsdata and/or specimens. Conducts literature reviews.Assistswith preparation of reports,manuscriptsand other documents.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Technical Skills or Knowledge: Experience with Stata, Python,Matlab, and/or R

Experience: 3months toone yearof work experience in a related job discipline. Experience gained through coursework may be counted as relevant experience.

• Experience in econometrics.
• Advanced coursework in Economics or Mathematics.
• Familiarity in analyzing large data sets, applying econometrics methods.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques in data analysis.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis packages such as Stata, R, or Python.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Work both independently and as a team member.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in economics, public policy, ora relatedfield.

Experience:

• Previousresearchassistanceexperience contributing meaningfully to faculty research.
• Advanced knowledge of research techniquesand methods in relevant scientificfield.

Preferred Competencies

• Understandingofacademia and higher education inaresearch and teaching environment.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter
• Writing Sample
• Transcripts (unofficial accepted)
• Two professional references

About the Department

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics aims to foster frontier research and apply those findings to achieve global impact. BFI brings together researchers from the Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Law School, and the entire University of Chicago Economics Community to leverage robust data, apply cutting-edge analytical tools, and uncover novel insights on the world’s most difficult economic problems. BFI then bridges the divide between academic researchers and relevant policy makers by translating and packaging rigorous research into accessible formats and proactively sharing those findings with decision-makers and thought leaders in business, government and nonprofit institutions. In this way, BFI has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the most difficult challenges facing the global community.

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

Disclaimer: The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.