Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow in Development Economics
- Switzerland
Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow in Development Economics
Tax Evasion, Firm Development
University of Zurich (Prof. Dina Pomeranz)
Dina Pomeranz (University of Zurich) is looking for a full-time research assistant together with Paul Carrillo (GWU), Dave Donaldson (MIT), Ronak Jain (University of Zurich), Constantine Manda (UC Irvine), Marina Ngoma (World Bank), Monica Singhal (UC Davis), Juan Carlos Suárez-Serrato (Stanford University), and Jonathan Weigel (UC Berkeley). The research assistant will work on several projects in development economics, ranging from taxation to firm development and broader microeconomic development studies.
Research projects
The successful candidate will contribute to a number of research projects that draw on different datasets to shed light on i) tax compliance in low- and middle-income countries, ii) the impact of public procurement on firm development, and iii) measures to improve welfare for low-income domestic workers. The projects involve the analysis of exciting, large-scale network datasets including the transactions between all formal firms in the entire country of Ecuador and tax data on intra-group payments carried out by multinational firms operating in Chile, as well as the design and rollout of randomized field experiments (RCTs) in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What is the pre-doctoral research fellow’s role?
We expect to involve the research fellow in all stages of research – brainstorming, literature reviews, project management, data analysis in STATA, and writing. The research fellow will work in teams with professors and a vibrant team of other research assistants and will receive hands-on mentoring throughout.
Qualifications
The position is ideal for a recent graduate who is interested in going on to do a PhD in economics or a related field, or in exploring whether a PhD would be a good fit for them. The candidate should have a master’s or bachelor’s degree with good grades in economics or another quantitative social science field. Candidates need strong knowledge of STATA. Knowledge of other statistical programs such as R or Python is welcome but not required. The position is ideal for someone who either possesses or is interested in acquiring the ability to communicate research results effectively to different audiences in a clear and accurate manner.
We are looking for a person who enjoys independent problem-solving and thrives on taking high-level directional advice and then running with this advice as far as possible. The position requires strong organizational and time management skills, the ability to work towards multiple deadlines and interact with different professors and stakeholders. The ideal candidate has a desire to understand the social world around them and possesses a thirst for answering research questions about international development, taxation, and/or firm behavior.
No work permit is required, as we will endeavor to obtain an employment visa for the candidate if required.
Country: Switzerland
Education: Bachelor's, Master’s
Start Date (Earliest): 1. November 2024
Start Date (Latest): 1 January 2025
Length of Commitment: Two years
Language Requirement: English
Application Deadline: 15 October 2024
How to Apply
Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. After completing a brief registration, choose the General Account job category, then select "Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow in Development Economics” and include a resume, cover letter, transcripts, and two recommendation letters. Note that applications with incomplete submissions will not be considered.
You are able to submit your application before your references complete their recommendation letters; however, you must include their contact information before submitting your application. Given the volume of applications received, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.