Pre-Doctoral Research Assistant

University of Notre Dame•Notre Dame, IN

About The Position

The Pulte Institute for Global Development is hiring a pre-doctoral Research Assistant to support Professor Isaac Mbiti. The RA will work on research projects focused on human capital development and labor markets in low- and middle-income countries. Recent projects have focused on Ghana, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. This position is a 2-year appointment at the University of Notre Dame. Start date is flexible, but candidates should start no later than August 1st, 2026. Pre-docs are supported by a positive work environment and a robust team of fellow researchers, including other pre-docs, post-docs, and faculty within the Pulte Institute.

Requirements

Completion of a bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Economics, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field
Demonstrated strength in quantitative analysis, including proficiency with experimental and quasi-experimental econometric methods
Excellent written communication skills, supported by submission of a writing sample
Proven ability to work independently and apply strong problem-solving skills
Capacity to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail
Experience with statistical programming in Stata (preferred) and/or R

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant field
Experience or familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Experience or familiarity with Item Response Theory (IRT)
Proficiency or working knowledge of LaTeX
Demonstrated experience working with large and complex datasets
Prior experience conducting or supporting fieldwork

Responsibilities

Data sourcing
Grant applications
Fieldwork
Data analysis
Manuscript preparation
Research team management
Presentation of results
Generation of replication materials
Dissemination of results to academic and policy audiences through workshops and conferences
Participate in mentorship and skills development activities
Attend the weekly development economics workshop
Enroll in one class each semester for credit