Senior Research Specialist I

Princeton University•Princeton, NJ

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Based in Princeton’s School of Public & International Affairs, the Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance (JRCPPF) promotes research and teaching at the intersection of finance, macroeconomics, and policy. This position is ideal for graduating students interested in economics or finance, who are planning to pursue doctoral studies within two years. The position is structured to help individuals prepare for doctoral programs in economics by gaining valuable research experience. In addition to working closely with Center faculty, senior research specialists have opportunities to participate in Princeton University’s vibrant academic life through attending seminars, classes, and interacting with students and fellows at the Center. This is a term position renewable after the first year. Successful applicants will start in summer 2026 (start date flexible). We strongly prefer candidates who are willing to commit for a period of two years. The position is based in Princeton, NJ, and will be an in-person role.

Requirements

BA/BS in economics, mathematics, or computer science, or in a related field (e.g., public policy, with significant coursework in economics, mathematics, statistics, and/or programming)
Experience with statistical programming in STATA, Python, or R
Demonstrated interest in empirical social science
Excellent analytical, empirical, and writing skills, demonstrated through independent work (e.g. course paper, undergraduate thesis, or independent research)
Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and flexibly adapt to changes in priorities; experience working both independently and as a team member; willingness to take initiative and follow projects through to completion.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of STATA, R, Python, Julia, and/or MATLAB
Familiarity with machine learning methods and algorithmic modeling for large datasets
Experience with LaTeX, Unix/Linux
Evidence of outstanding academic achievement
Familiarity with standard economic and financial data sources, Internet tools, and HTML

Responsibilities

Clean, synthesize, and analyze data.
Produce empirical analysis and more sophisticated statistical models (i.e., machine learning, neural nets, LLMs).
Prepare results and design figures for reports and presentations.
Manage and manipulate data using requested languages, including Python, R, MATLAB, and STATA.
Collaborate successfully with faculty, students, and other RAs at Princeton as well as external co-authors.
Independently manage all timelines and deliverables.
Exercise independent decision-making regarding the progression of the research projects and methodologies.