Full-Time Pre-Doctoral Research Assistant

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated Full-Time Pre-Doctoral Research Assistant to collaborate closely with UC Berkeley Professor Joseph S. Shapiro. The research topics may span environmental/energy economics, public finance, trade, and health economics. This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside faculty from prestigious institutions and gain experience in empirical research before pursuing Ph.D. studies.

The appointment starts ideally in summer or fall 2026 with some flexibility, on renewable one-year contracts, with preference for candidates available for two years. Competitive salary and benefits are provided by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage multiple research projects throughout various phases.
• Collect, clean, and analyze data for economic studies.
• Prepare presentations to communicate research findings.
• Conduct interviews with government officials and private sector stakeholders.
• Write and edit research papers and reports.
• Work on topics such as water quality economics, land use regulation, environmental policy efficiency and equity, and dynamic natural resource management.
• Handle confidential datasets, including sensitive Census Bureau data, requiring proper clearance.
• Participate in an active academic community with seminars, workshops, and social events promoting mentoring and learning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science/Data Science, Political Science, or related fields.
• Prior experience as a research analyst or independent researcher preferred.
• Strong programming skills necessary; proficiency in Python is highly preferred along with familiarity in Stata and/or R.
• Ability to analyze data and author clear, analytical reports.
• Detail-oriented with strong independent work ethic and sound understanding of economic principles.
• Interest in pursuing long-term research related to economics, especially for candidates intending to apply to Ph.D. programs.
• Preferred candidates will be U.S. citizens or residents for the past three years due to access requirements for confidential Census data.
• Familiarity with large language models is beneficial but not mandatory.
• We strongly encourage applications from individuals underrepresented in the field of economics.

Additional Information

Please include in your application emphasis on programming experience, prior research assistant roles or independent projects, teamwork skills, references (2-3 with contact details), availability to start, and a transcript. Application reviews will be ongoing.

Location: Berkeley, California

The National Bureau of Economic Research is committed to equal opportunity employment and will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.