Research Associate - Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities

Summary of the Organization: The Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame is a research center dedicated to reducing poverty and improving lives in the United States through evidence-based programs and policies.

Summary of the Role: LEO is looking for a proactive, self-starter who desires to be part of solving one of the most critical issues our nation faces today—poverty. The Research Associate will help investigate new projects and participate in the research and policy development process. Research Associates work closely with senior researchers to initiate and carry out evaluations, and take significant ownership of projects, from coordinating project logistics to data analysis and dissemination of results.

Responsibilities:

Project Management:

1. Work closely with social service agencies to integrate evaluation into their programs’ everyday operations
2. Document and describe interventions for research and policy audiences
3. Liaise between researchers and agency staff, clarifying concerns and handling logistical questions
4. Assist in the composition of research grant proposals

Data Analysis:

1. Write data sharing agreements and coordinate data exchanges between LEO, government agencies, and/or social service nonprofits
2. Maintain program data on Notre Dame’s secure servers
3. Analyze data and present results to researchers and agency partners

Project Dissemination:

1. Support research team in writing up results for academic articles
2. Conduct webinars, draft policy briefs and other materials for LEO audiences
3. Present results at conferences and other venues as needed

Qualifications:

1. A deep commitment to the mission of both LEO and the University.
2. Undergraduate degree in Economics, Mathematics, or related social science field.
3. Training in econometric and statistical techniques employed in randomized evaluations.
4. Statistical programming experience (STATA, R, SAS).
5. Highly organized with ability to juggle multiple demands simultaneously.
6. Strong written and oral communication skills.
7. Self-directed, with willingness to take initiative over project tasks and explore potential evaluations.
8. Experience working for economic researchers as a research assistant.
9. Experience working for or with social service providers.

This is a two year limited-term position based in South Bend, IN at the University of Notre Dame.

The ideal candidate is able to begin work in January 2024 and commit to 2 years in this role, have strong coding skills, and experience with statistical programing (STATA or R).