Assistant or Associate Research Professor, Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management

University of Denver•Denver, CO

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions (CHRIS) at the University of Denver is seeking an Assistant or Associate Research Professor to serve as its lead economist and methodologist. CHRIS is an interdisciplinary hub focused on housing research, data, policy evaluation, and education, covering the full housing continuum. The center utilizes innovative research methods and technologies, including industrialized construction, to address housing challenges related to production, preservation, affordability, and resilience. CHRIS translates evidence into practical solutions for policymakers and communities, while also developing regional data infrastructure and training future housing leaders. The center draws on expertise from across the University of Denver, including the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management, Sturm College of Law, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, and Graduate School of Social Work, and partners with various external organizations. The University of Denver is a highly-ranked private institution with a strong business college, the Daniels College of Business, and is located in a vibrant city known for its business community and outdoor activities. The Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management focuses on the full lifecycle of the built environment, integrating academic knowledge with real-world applications, and offers rigorous instruction with strong industry support.

Requirements

Doctorate degree in economics, public policy or a related field with primary focus on housing and/or real estate markets
Six years or more of progressively responsible applied research experience in housing economics, delivering actionable research insights
Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in economics, real estate, or related academic journals
Strong methodological expertise in econometrics and causal inference research design

Nice To Haves

Willingness to focus on Colorado’s housing market and develop as a subject matter expert.
Ability to write and present for a wide variety of audiences, ranging from local economic and real estate professionals to industry leaders and government officials.
Knowledge of best practices and experience in summarizing and visualizing economic data in easy-to-understand ways.
Working proficiency in econometric, analytical software and/or GIS, including coding skills and familiarity with tools like Python.
Strong, applied understanding of the macroeconomic and institutional drivers of housing markets, including demographics, household formation and composition, employment, and government regulations.
Ability to synthesize these to explain housing market dynamics.
Experience with economic forecasting.
High standard of excellence and research integrity; outstanding judgement dependability and professionalism.
Able to perform independently and as part of a multidisciplinary collaborative team.
Ability to mentor and supervise direct reports
Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and deadlines.
Strong organizational and project management skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and aptitude for mastering supportive technologies.
Understanding of issues of equity and sustainability and their intersection with housing.
Strong communication and leadership skills

Responsibilities

Serve as CHRIS's lead economist and methodologist.
Lead and publish peer-reviewed and applied policy research focused on housing economics and real estate markets.
Provide methodological leadership across CHRIS’s research portfolio.
Collaborate with faculty and researchers across Burns and the broader University.
Collaborate with leaders and scholars from other units on campus and researchers from other institutions to identify new research opportunities.
Develop research design and conceptual frameworks for understanding the links between policies and housing supply.
Produce evidence-driven research to inform housing policy debates.
Work closely with researchers from Terner Labs to develop and manage Housing Policy Simulators for Colorado.
Use resulting models to conduct policy-relevant research and analyze the application of research to policy outcomes.
Represent DU at various forums, conferences, symposiums and events to present and share research and white papers.
Undertake rigorous, timely, and practical research projects focusing on housing economics, real estate finance, and the effect of housing and land use policies and regulations on housing markets and affordability.
Serve as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on sponsored grants and research projects.
Advise CHRIS-affiliated researchers and staff on research design, econometrics, and causal inference methods.
Supervise graduate research assistants.
Collaborate with faculty across departments and schools on research papers targeted at top-tier housing, real estate, and economics journals.
Support interdisciplinary housing research projects, integrating policy analysis with economic and demographic data, spatial analyses, industry reports, and other sources of information.
Support communications and outreach that foster broader engagement with DU’s housing work.
Participate in events sponsored by CHRIS, the Burns School, and other partners across DU.
Share research in writing and through presentations.
Contribute to the intellectual life of the University of Denver.
Advance beneficial policy solutions in collaboration with other interested stakeholders.
Become a subject matter expert and be prepared to present to large and small audiences.
Guest lecture in various programs across campus.
Teach in the Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing, the Burns School of Real Estate and other units at DU at extra compensation at DU adjunct rates.