Full Time Term Research Assistant

Full Time Research Assistant - Economics of Weather Forecasts Project

 Professor Abhishek Nagaraj is seeking a full-time research assistant for a NOAA-funded project studying the economic impact of weather forecasts on small business performance. The position will involve close collaboration on analyzing how weather events and their forecasts affect business outcomes in the American West. The research assistant will be based at the National Bureau of Economic Research and will be part of Professor Nagaraj's Data Innovation Lab starting July 2025.

 The ideal candidate should be completing (or have completed) a Bachelor's or Master's degree and will have: (i) strong programming skills in Python, R, and/or Stata, (ii) experience working with large datasets, (iii) background in empirical research methods, (iv) excellent academic record, and (v) interest in applied microeconomics, innovation economics, and/or environmental economics. Experience with weather/climate data or business performance data is a plus but not required.

 The research assistant will be involved in all stages of research. Responsibilities will include:

- Processing and analyzing large-scale weather forecast and business performance datasets

- Matching and cleaning data from multiple sources including NOAA weather data and business transaction records

- Conducting statistical analyses of forecast accuracy and economic impacts

- Assisting with literature reviews and background research

- Contributing to academic papers and policy briefs

- Creating data visualizations and presentations

 This position is ideal for candidates interested in pursuing graduate studies in economics or management, particularly those interested in environmental economics, innovation economics, management of innovation, or applied microeconomics. The research assistant will interact frequently with Professor Nagaraj, project collaborators, NOAA personnel, and other members of the Data Innovation Lab.

 The position requires a bachelor's degree in economics, computer science, statistics, mathematics, atmospheric sciences, or a related field.

 The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment with the possibility of renewal for a second year based on performance and mutual agreement. Strong preference will be given to applicants who can commit to two years.

 This position is open only to U.S. citizens and individuals who already have a valid U.S. work permit.

TO APPLY: Please submit a single PDF document containing:

1. A cover letter describing:

   a. Your interest in the position

   b. Your available start and end dates

   c. Your programming experience (especially with Python, R, or Stata)

   d. Any relevant research experience

   e. Names, email addresses, and phone numbers of 2-3 references 

2. A current CV, including:

   a. All undergraduate and graduate degrees (completed or in progress) with institution, field of study, and GPA

3. Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions

4. A research paper or writing sample (if available)

5. Evidence of coding ability (if available e.g.):

   a. Link to GitHub repository with sample projects

   b. Code sample from a research project or class assignment

   c. Description of a data analysis project with technical details

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Short-listed candidates will be asked to complete a technical exercise and may be called for an interview.

The NBER is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability. The NBER will make reasonable accommodation for any disabled applicant.