Job Title: Research Professional – Michael Greenstone / Climate Impact Lab (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

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

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2024, though earlier start dates will be accommodated

For questions about this position, please email bfipredoc@uchicago.edu

Job Summary:

The Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC) invites applications for full-time pre-doctoral fellows for the academic year 2024-25. An interdisciplinary research and training center at the University of Chicago, EPIC is contributing innovative solutions to the global energy challenge: how can we ensure that people around the world, today and in the future, have access to reliable, affordable energy needed for human development without putting our health, environment and climate at risk? Previous results from EPIC projects have been influential with policymakers worldwide and featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other leading publications.

The Climate Impact Lab’s team of economists, climate scientists, data engineers, and risk analysts are building the world’s most comprehensive body of research quantifying the impacts of climate change sector-by-sector, community-by-community around the world. This research will allow decision-makers in the public and private sectors to understand the risks climate change presents and mitigate those risks through smarter investments and public policy. The research will also produce the world’s first empirically-derived estimate of the social cost of carbon — the cost to society from each ton of carbon dioxide emitted. This figure can serve as the basis for energy and climate policies.

Successful candidates will work with the Climate Impact Lab under the direction of Michael Greenstone. Responsibilities span all stages of research, including managing projects, collecting and analyzing data, creating presentations, and editing manuscripts. Our research involves using quasi-experimental methods and globally comprehensive data to analyze climate change's impact on various socioeconomic sectors, including health, agriculture, labor, energy, conflict, coasts, and migration. 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.

Applicants must have completed a Bachelors or Master’s degree by the beginning of their employment and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab. The ideal candidate would begin on July 1, 2024 or earlier and work for EPIC for one or two years before applying to graduate school in Economics or another quantitative social science. EPIC offers competitive salary and employee benefits. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Additional Responsibilities

Under limited direction, performs complex lab and/or research-related duties and tasks;
Collects, records and analyzes data;
Conducts literature reviews;
Participates in writing reports and manuscripts;
Ensures compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates;
Trains and oversees the work of research support personnel;
Transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments;
Presenting research findings at staff meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences;
Assisting with building databases;
Recruiting and scheduling research subjects.

Unit-preferred Competencies

Ability to train others
Advanced knowledge in relevant scientific field
Advanced knowledge of research techniques or methods
Knowledge of regulatory policies and procedures
Knowledge of scientific applications and equipment
Analytical skills
Problem-solving skills
Attention to detail
Organizational skills
Verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

Background in any of the following major fields: economics, business (with a concentration in economics), finance, public policy (with a concentration in economics), other social sciences (with quantitative training), mathematics, statistics, or computer science

Experience

Relevant research experience as a research assistant.

Technical Knowledge/Skills

Experience with Stata, Python, Matlab, and/or R required

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)
Cover Letter (required)
Writing sample (required)
Two Professional References (required)

About the Department
The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) works with the Chicago Economics community to turn its evidence-based research into real-world impact. BFI takes a unique approach to bridging the divide between academic researchers and decision-makers in the business community and government by translating and packaging the rigorous work of the Chicago Economics community into accessible formats, and proactively sharing those findings with relevant decision-makers and thought leaders around the globe. BFI is a collaborative platform serving the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Law School.

A BFI-affiliated center, the Climate Impact Lab is an interdisciplinary research and training center. CIL is contributing innovative solutions to the global energy challenge: how can we ensure that people around the world, today and in the future, have access to reliable, affordable energy needed for human development without putting our health, environment and climate at risk? For more information visit https://epic.uchicago.edu/, https://epic.uchicago.edu/about/jobs-fellowships/fellowships/predoctoral-fellowship-program/, and https://bfi.uchicago.edu.

The University of Chicago provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, applicants, and job seekers. No person shall be discriminated against in employment or harassed because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, parental status, ancestry, source of income, or other classes protected by law. This policy includes the commitment to maintaining a work environment free from unlawful harassment.

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