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

University of Denver•Quinte West, ON

5d•$150,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions (CHRIS) at the University of Denver is seeking a Housing Economist for a faculty research appointment (non-tenure track) in the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management. This role will serve as CHRIS's lead economist and methodologist, reporting to the Executive Director of CHRIS and with a dotted-line relationship to the Director of the Burns School. The Housing Economist will lead and publish peer-reviewed and applied policy research focused on housing economics and real estate markets, provide methodological leadership, and collaborate with internal and external partners. Responsibilities include developing and managing Housing Policy Simulators for Colorado, conducting policy-relevant research, and representing DU at various forums. The research will focus on housing economics, real estate finance, and the impact of housing and land use policies on housing markets and affordability.

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.
Publish peer-reviewed and applied policy research in housing economics and real estate markets.
Develop and apply Terner Labs' Housing Policy Simulator for Colorado communities.
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.
Partner with researchers at the University of Denver and other institutions to support interdisciplinary housing research projects.
Integrate 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 the DU adjunct rates.