Job Description

Professors Catherine Wolfram and Mert Demirer are seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual to join their research group as a full-time pre-doctoral researcher. The successful candidate will work closely with the faculty at all stages of the research process on new and ongoing empirical projects in energy and environmental economics and industrial organization. Research projects examine topics such as energy markets, environmental policy, climate change, market design, firm behavior, and the economics of regulation. The research employs modern empirical methods, including causal inference using natural experiments and randomized interventions, machine learning, and structural modeling.

The pre-doctoral position offers an outstanding opportunity to gain training in frontier empirical research in economics while working closely with faculty and graduate students. The successful candidate will develop expertise in managing and analyzing large administrative and proprietary datasets using statistical software such as Stata, R, and Python, and will contribute to research projects from data collection and cleaning to statistical analysis and the preparation of research manuscripts.

• Participate on empirical research projects in various fields of applied economics. This includes discussions of research questions, empirical strategies, and presentation of results
• Clean and analyze complex administrative and survey data using R, Python, and STATA
• Create compelling data visualizations to communicate results effectively
• Maintain meticulous records of procedures and analyses
• Meet project deadlines and deliver high-quality outputs
• Contribute actively to weekly progress meetings
• Interact with colleagues in the predoctoral program to discuss methods and research ideas
• Other duties as needed or require

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in specialized or related field with an excellent academic record.
• Minimum 2 years’ specialized experience with qualitative data analysis, research methods, social sciences (which may include experience gained as an undergraduate).
• A strong quantitative background and excellent programming skills.
• A long-term interest in pursuing a PhD in economics or a related field.
• Background in economics is preferred but not required. We welcome applicants with strong quantitative or computational backgrounds who are interested in applying these skills to economic research.
• Prior research assistant experience is strongly preferred.
• Enthusiasm for empirical research and a willingness to learn new methods and take initiative as projects evolve.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively.

The appointment is expected to last two years before the successful candidate begins a PhD program in economics or a related field. The position is available immediately, and the successful candidate may begin as soon as possible or at a mutually agreed-upon date. The position is based at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and offers opportunities to interact with faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers. Pre-doctoral researchers are encouraged to attend seminars and participate actively in the intellectual life of the department. Salary is competitive with other pre-doctoral research positions.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. MIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community and strongly encourages applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

Application Instructions

• A one-page cover letter describing their academic background, research interests, quantitative and programming experience, future career goals, and (optionally) any challenges they have overcome. Applicants should also explain their interest in research in energy and environmental economics and/or industrial organization.
• A curriculum vitae.
• An academic transcript.
• A writing sample (such as a research paper or course paper).
• A sample of code written by the applicant, together with a brief description of its purpose and output.
• The names and contact information of two references.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. MIT’s full policy on Nondiscrimination can be found here.

Background Check Policy

Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including possible verification of any findings of misconduct (or pending investigations) from prior employers.