Research Professional Chris Blattman (Full-Time, Benefits Eligible)

Job Title: Research Professional (RP) 

Location: Chicago, IL 

Salary Ranges: $55,000–62,000 annual salary, additional $2,000 professional development fund. The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Terms: Seeking a Research Professional for a period of at least one but ideally two years 

Projects: Projects include the empirical analysis of field and quasi-experiments. 

Expected Start Date: No later than July 1, 2026 

Department: Becker Friedman Institute  

Benefits Eligible: Yes. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Job Summary 

The Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) is seeking to hire a full-time Research Professional to work for Professor Christopher Blattman as part of BFI’s Development Economics Initiative. The Research Professional will collaborate on new and ongoing research projects with a focus on, but not limited to, the empirical analysis of field and quasi-experiments. More specifically, the Research Professional will be involved in advanced empirical and theoretical work on violence prevention, on the economics organized crime, as well as other topics on the intersection of development economics and political economy. The Research Professional is part of the vibrant research environment at The University of Chicago and may attend and participate in seminars and workshops in preparation for a successful academic career. This position requires a commitment of at least one year and applicants must be available to begin work as early as March 2026 and no later than July 2026.  

BFI's Predoctoral Research in Economics Program (PREP) is intended to serve as a bridge between college and graduate school for students interested in empirical economics. Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree by June 2026 and have strong quantitative and programming skills. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with experience in Stata, R, Python or Matlab.  

Unit-Specific Responsibilities

• Contributing to design and implementation of research in development economics. 


• Conducting data cleaning and data analysis. 


• Assistance drafting, fact-checking and proof-reading papers. 


• Developing literature reviews. 


• Other duties as assigned 

Unit-preferred Competencies

• Strong interest in development economics 


• Ability to work both independently, in a self-directed manner, and as a team member 


• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and compelling written materials geared towards technical and non-technical audiences 


• Mature, self-directed individual with the ability to balance multiple tasks and prioritize effectively in order to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced working environment 


• Ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision 


• Excellent organizational skills and high attention to detail 

Preferred Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, or related field with substantial training in economics 


• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field 

Experience

• Work experience in a research environment, with proven analytical and quantitative skills 


• Experience conducting RCTs or other research in a developing country 

Technical Knowledge/Skills

• Experience with a statistical analysis package such as R, Python, or Stata

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)


• Cover Letter (required)


• Writing Sample (required)


• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) (required)


• Two Professional References (required)

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.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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