Pre-Doctoral Research Associate

The Department of Economics at Brown University invites applications for a one-year Pre-Doctoral Research Associate. We are seeking to fill this position as soon as possible, with a start date no later than Summer 2026. The successful candidate will work closely with and be mentored by Professor Matthew Pecenco.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research utilizing quasi-experimental and experimental methods to estimate the causal impacts of public policies. Current work spans the evaluation of housing and social service interventions, the criminal justice system, and the design and targeting of public programs. Professor Pecenco’s work has been featured in leading academic journals and prominent outlets such as The Economist and the Economic Report of the President.

Responsibilities:

• Clean, manage, and analyze large administrative and survey datasets
• Implement econometric analyses including causal inference methods (e.g., instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, causal forests)
• Produce tables, figures, and presentation materials for academic papers and policy reports
• Conduct literature reviews and contribute to research writing
• Assist with project management

This position is an excellent stepping stone for candidates considering graduate studies or research-focused careers in economics or related fields.

For this position, Brown offers only the J-1 visa classification to scholars who need immigration sponsorship in order to enter the U.S. and commence lawful employment under the terms of their appointment.

We seek applicants with strong quantitative, programming, and data-analysis skills—ideally with backgrounds in economics, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering—who are eager to pursue graduate research on international trade, macroeconomics, and finance. A commitment to independent inquiry, intellectual curiosity, and teamwork is essential.

Applications should include a cover letter, CV, transcript, and contact information for two references. Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in economics, math, computer science, data science, engineering and a strong quantitative background and excellent computer programming skills is essential. Experience with micro data on firms, banks, investors, currencies, trade and financial asset transactions is welcome. Familiarity with Python, Stata, R, MATLAB, SQL is preferred. Candidates should address how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive university community.

Candidates should address how they would contribute to the research and/or teaching missions of our diverse and inclusive university community. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.