Term Research Assistant

natl bueau of econ • Cambridge, MA

9d • $60,000 - $60,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The research team of Samuel Bazzi, Eric Chyn, Andreas Ferrara, Martin Fiszbein, Thomas Pearson, and Patrick Testa is looking to hire a full-time pre-doctoral research assistant to begin in the spring of 2026 and to work for a period 10 months (with the possibility of extensions between 1-3 months based on demand). The position will entail close collaboration and assistance with all stages of new and ongoing empirical projects in political economy, development, and economic history. The pre-doctoral research assistant will work with large-scale textual data from digitized historical newspaper data as well as individual census data from the United States. They will also be tasked with training and supervising a larger team of undergraduate research assistants.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, computer science, mathematics, political science, or a related field. This position is ideal for candidates looking to develop their research skills in preparation for applying to PhD programs in economics or related fields. Preference will be given to detail-oriented applicants with strong programming experience in Python, as well as Stata and/or R. Familiarity with large language models is beneficial but will otherwise be acquired on the job.

The position is located at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in Cambridge, MA, but is hybrid- or remote eligible. Annual salary is $60,000.

To apply, please upload a single PDF that appends all the following materials into one file into the application below:

1) A cover letter describing your interest in this position, your familiarity with specific programming languages, your prior experience as a research assistant and/or with independent research projects, and names and e-mail addresses of two references

2) A current CV

3) An unofficial transcript

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. Short-listed applicants may be asked to complete a technical exercise and will be called for an interview.

The NBER is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability. The NBER will make reasonable accommodation for any disabled applicant, and will provide assistance to disabled applicants as needed during the application process.

Requirements

• Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, computer science, mathematics, political science, or a related field
• Detail-oriented
• Strong programming experience in Python, as well as Stata and/or R

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with large language models

Responsibilities

• Close collaboration and assistance with all stages of new and ongoing empirical projects in political economy, development, and economic history
• Work with large-scale textual data from digitized historical newspaper data as well as individual census data from the United States
• Training and supervising a larger team of undergraduate research assistants

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level