Economics Pre-Doctoral Research Data Specialist (School of Government and Policy)

We are seeking an Economics Pre-Doctoral Research Data Specialist who will assist in the management, analysis, and reporting of complex data to support a research project or study. The Research Data Specialists will work closely with the research team and support the preparation of reports, publications, and presentations.

These positions are designed to last for one to two years and are for recent graduates interested in pursuing a PhD in economics. The economics pre-doctoral research specialists will work closely with Peter Arcidiacono, Stefanie DeLuca, and Nicholas Papageorge.

The newly announced School of Government and Public Policy, unveiled in October 2023, presents a pivotal opportunity for Johns Hopkins University to strengthen its footprint and engagement in the nation’s capital. This initiative aims to serve society, train the next generation of public servants, drive data-informed government innovation, and confront the complex challenges facing today’s policymakers.

The person filling this position will be working in a start-up environment - creating processes and procedures, navigating unexpected obstacles, and adapting to change frequently. An agile mindset and flexible approach to daily responsibilities is needed as we define new ways of working within a well-established university. We are seeking a solution-focused person with a demonstrated ability to create new paths to achieve results.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with building datasets, constructing variables and data cleaning.
• Assist with the production of publication-quality tables and graphs and present results to the study team.
• Provide preliminary and interim analyses of data; perform statistical calculations and assist with preparation of reports, scientific abstracts and method sections of manuscripts.
• Support the performance of analyses on large, complex datasets, and document analyses using STATA, R, Python, etc.
• Prepare data reports and analyses, report on the status of the database, conduct analytical activities, and review reports to verify data.
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Supplemental Functions

Survey collection and distribution

• Work with project team on survey development.
• Submit for IRB approval of survey mechanisms.
• Coordinate student volunteers for survey administration.
• Build connections with JHU dorms and student government to facilitate survey engagement.

Data analysis

• Merge existing administrative as well as new survey data sets.
• Conduct statistical analysis in R and Stata on both administrative and survey data.

Project creation

• Develop research ideas both for own work and joint work with project leads.
• Assist with writing up the analysis for papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree.
• Two years of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree