Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

The Wharton School

54d•$57,000 - $61,000

About The Position

Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu. The Wharton School's 20+ research centers and initiatives serve as a hub for exchange and study where faculty, students, and members of the business community address pressing global business challenges. Their work generates courses, academic programs, community outreach, working papers, published research, and partnerships among academics, industry, and government. The Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research at the Wharton School is seeking a Predoctoral Research Specialist to support the research of Professors Sylvain Catherine, Lu Liu, and Huan Tang. Research projects will study topics in household finance, fintech, labor, and public finance, combining large-scale microdata, structural and econometric analysis to inform key debates in macroeconomics and public policy. This position offers hands-on experience with data collection, quantitative analysis, and exposure to a wide range of research topics in finance. A successful Predoctoral Research Specialist will work in this challenging position for two years, possess a strong desire to expand and deepen skills in research and quantitative data analysis, and emerge prepared to apply for PhD programs in Economics or Finance. Research Specialists will be encouraged to be an active part of the Wharton research community, which can include attending seminars, exploring personal research interests, and taking graduate-level classes at Wharton. This position will join a cohort of Predoctoral Research Specialists, both in the Finance Department and across other departments at the Wharton School. The candidate will also be expected to assist as needed in select Rodney White Center programs and activities. This is a full-time, limited-term position typically intended for recent graduates who are seeking predoctoral research experience. The position is designed for a duration of 2 years and cannot be extended beyond the initial term. The term for this position is July 1, 2026- June 30, 2028. Annual salary is in the range of $57,000-61,000 plus benefits.

Requirements

Applicants requiring visa sponsorship WILL NOT be considered for this role.
This is a full-time, limited-term position typically intended for recent graduates who are seeking predoctoral research experience.
The position is designed for a duration of 2 years and cannot be extended beyond the initial term.
The term for this position is July 1, 2026- June 30, 2028.
Annual salary is in the range of $57,000-61,000 plus benefits.

Nice To Haves

BA/BS in Economics, Finance, Statistics, or a related discipline and 1 to 2 years of research experience (potentially done while completing a bachelor’s degree).
Research experience, including conducting independent research using statistical software such as STATA, Matlab, Python, Mathematica, or R.
The ability to analyze data, derive proofs, and write reports.
Self-directed, intrinsically motivated, and have the capacity to manage work independently.

Responsibilities

Manage data for faculty research projects, including collection, analysis, and interpretation.
Develop and maintain moderately complex databases using STATA, Excel, SAS, and other software applications.
Prepare supporting materials for faculty research papers, such as graphs, tables, data descriptions, and appendices.
Contribute to other research activities such as writing research reports and literature reviews, conducting background research on recent policy developments, and preparing presentation materials.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Benefits

Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.