Development and Experimental Economics Research Fellow
POSITION FILLED
Faculty Supervisor(s):
Maria Kogelnik and Rohini Pande
Project and Position Description:
Professor Rohini Pande, Henry J. Heinz II Professor of Economics, Director of the Economic Growth Center and Inclusion Economics at Yale University, and Maria Kogelnik, Economics Lecturer and Associate Research Scientist, are looking to hire a highly skilled and motivated pre-doctoral research fellow to work as part of their research teams. The position will involve assistance with all stages of empirical research in international development, gender, and experimental/behavioral economics.
In this position’s support to Prof. Pande, studies will explore evidence-driven, policy-relevant research questions related to inclusion in India, Nepal, or Kenya. Studies are varied in both question and method, with current work including research exploring how to incorporate design features into a large national workfare program to increase women’s financial autonomy and labor market outcomes at scale; communicating flood warnings to specific gatekeepers in vulnerable communities can improve mitigation measures; how closing information asymmetries among bureaucrats and politicians affects service delivery; informing Nepal’s political transition to federalism; exploring higher-value payment for ecosystem services contracts for higher-risk land; and exploring mechanisms to close the gender gap in access to mobile technology, financial services, and economic opportunities. Supporting Dr. Kogelnik’s work, this position will support both online and lab-in-the-field studies in behavioral economics as a part of the new initiative in Behavioral and Experimental Economics across EGC and Yale Inclusion Economics (YIE). The selected candidate will work on studies related to gender and belief formation, using different experimental methods ranging from lab-in-the-field to online and in-person experiments.
Fellows are exposed to cutting-edge topics and research methods in this area. This position is data-intensive, and the selected candidate will be expected to analyze survey data, experimental data, administrative data, and intervention monitoring data. Good writing skills are valued. Fellows join in weekly lab meetings and benefit from opportunities to work with Professor Pande, Dr. Kogelnik and other academic economists at Yale and other universities. The position is offered for one year, with a strong preference for a second-year renewal.
Inclusion Economics at Yale University (YIE) is a policy-based research initiative based out of the Yale Economic Growth Center (EGC) and Yale Macmillan Center, and works in collaboration with other researchers from Yale as well as other institutions, such as Inclusion Economics India Centre and Inclusion Economics Nepal. YIE draws upon economics, political science, and related fields to conduct cutting-edge research to understand how policy can promote inclusive, accountable economies and societies. Our core research focuses on gender as it relates to labor economics and broader economic empowerment, political economy and governance, and environmental economics.
Responsibilities for this position include:
-Cleaning and managing large datasets;
-Conducting statistical analyses of data using Stata;
-Preparing literature reviews, background research, and other draft content for grant proposals and academic papers;
-Drafting project reports, slide-decks, research protocols, and other project documents;
-Working with field research teams, including travel to study sites (South Asia and/or East Africa)
Requisite Skills and Qualifications:
-Strong quantitative background: This could include Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Data Science, International Development, or other degrees with substantial quantitative coursework
-Strong computer skills including programming in Stata and/or R
-Strong academic record and interest in pursuing a PhD in economics
-Strong interest in public policy and economic development research, with a focus on India, Nepal, and/or Kenya
-Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
-Ability to work independently
-Willingness to travel to South Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa, including rural areas
-Willingness to acquire new skills related to conducting experimental studies in the field as well as online
Prior experience as a research assistant in Economics or a related field is preferred. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Special Application Insutrctions:
In addition to completing the Tobin Center common application, applicants for this position are required to complete this short screening questionnaire: https://forms.gle/d6FpYgnQVDARGbpp9.