Working at MIT offers opportunities that just aren’t found anywhere else, including generous and unique benefits that help to ensure that MIT employees are healthy, supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work/life balance. Discover more about what it's like to work at MIT.

We welcome people from all walks of life to bring their talent, ideas, and experience to our community. We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds – like yours. If you want to be part of our exceptional, multicultural, collaborative, and inclusive community, then take a look at this opportunity.

MIT provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the Institute reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, and internal peer equity. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.

Predoctoral Researcher

Job Number: 25131
Functional Area: Research - Scientific
Department: Economics
School Area: Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences
Pay Range Minimum: Not Available
Pay Range Maximum: Not Available

Employment Type: Full-time (Hybrid)
Employment Category: Exempt
Visa Sponsorship Available: No
Schedule:
Pay Grade: No Grade

Posting Description

PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHER, Economics, working closely with Professor Ben Olken and his collaborators, focuses on supporting research projects in development and environmental economics, covering topics such as social protection, public service provision, tax collection, climate change, and pollution. Key responsibilities include data processing and analysis of large datasets using STATA or R—for example, cleaning, checking, linking, employing experimental and quasi-experimental analysis methodologies, and preparing data replication packages for publication; collaborating with field staff during research evaluations, which may involve some travel to research sites, and contribute to technical sections of project reports and IRB applications; and may include mentoring student interns, onboarding new team members, and assisting with literature reviews and academic writing.

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: Bachelor’s degree with strong economics and quantitative coursework; experience handling large datasets; proficiency in relevant statistical software; excellent written and verbal communication skills; a minimum of two years of specialized experience with quantitative data analysis, research methods, social sciences (which may include experience gained as an undergraduate, including part-time RA work, internships, and other coursework); and hands on experience with Stata or equivalent statistical package. PREFERRED: Research experience and a long-term interest in pursuing a PhD in economics or a related field.

This is a full-time, one-year opportunity (with possible 2nd year renewal).

The role values self-motivation, independence, and strong time management.

Employment requires U.S. work authorization and is based in Cambridge, MA, with a hybrid work option allowing one day per week remote.

Ideal start date is spring-summer 2026.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Questions should be directed to alexa_weiss@hks.harvard.edu. Professor Olken encourages applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those underrepresented in economics.

Candidates must apply to this position through both the MIT HR application portal J-PAL Common Application. After completing a brief registration, choose the Research job category, then select " Predoctoral Researcher – MIT Economics (Prof. Ben Olken)”. See here for detailed instruction on what to include. Applications not submitted through the J-PAL Common Application will be considered incomplete."

8/14/2025