Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Pre-Doctoral Research Specialist

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary

Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Wharton School's 20+ research centers and initiatives serve as a hub for exchange and study where faculty, students, and members of the business community address pressing global business challenges. Their work generates courses, academic programs, community outreach, working papers, published research, and partnerships among academics, industry, and government.

The Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research at the Wharton School is seeking a Predoctoral Research Specialist to support the research of Professors Sylvain Catherine, Lu Liu, and Huan Tang. Research projects will study topics in household finance, fintech, labor, and public finance, combining large-scale microdata, structural and econometric analysis to inform key debates in macroeconomics and public policy. This position offers hands-on experience with data collection, quantitative analysis, and exposure to a wide range of research topics in finance.

A successful Predoctoral Research Specialist will work in this challenging position for two years, possess a strong desire to expand and deepen skills in research and quantitative data analysis, and emerge prepared to apply for PhD programs in Economics or Finance. Research Specialists will be encouraged to be an active part of the Wharton research community, which can include attending seminars, exploring personal research interests, and taking graduate-level classes at Wharton. This position will join a cohort of Predoctoral Research Specialists, both in the Finance Department and across other departments at the Wharton School. The candidate will also be expected to assist as needed in select Rodney White Center programs and activities.

This is a full-time, limited-term position typically intended for recent graduates who are seeking predoctoral research experience. The position is designed for a duration of 2 years and cannot be extended beyond the initial term.

The term for this position is July 1, 2026- June 30, 2028. Annual salary is in the range of $57,000-61,000 plus benefits.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Manage data for faculty research projects, including collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Develop and maintain moderately complex databases using STATA, Excel, SAS, and other software applications.
• Prepare supporting materials for faculty research papers, such as graphs, tables, data descriptions, and appendices.
• Contribute to other research activities such as writing research reports and literature reviews, conducting background research on recent policy developments, and preparing presentation materials.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Preferred Qualifications

• BA/BS in Economics, Finance, Statistics, or a related discipline and 1 to 2 years of research experience (potentially done while completing a bachelor's degree).
• Research experience, including conducting independent research using statistical software such as STATA, Matlab, Python, Mathematica, or R.
• The ability to analyze data, derive proofs, and write reports.
• Self-directed, intrinsically motivated, and have the capacity to manage work independently.

*** Applicants requiring visa sponsorship WILL NOT be considered for this role.***

This is a full-time, limited-term position typically intended for recent graduates who are seeking predoctoral research experience. The position is designed for a duration of 2 years and cannot be extended beyond the initial term.

The term for this position is July 1, 2026- June 30, 2028. Annual salary is in the range of $57,000-61,000 plus benefits.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Wharton School

Pay Range

$44,500.00 - $58,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.