Pre-Doctoral Fellow

Company: University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

Department Harris School Pre-Docs, Temps and Non-Student Research Assistants About the Department Why Policy? For a better world. Why Harris Public Policy? Because when it comes to better policymaking, evidence matters. We work at the frontiers of data collection and analysis, using the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society. We conduct rigorous inquiry in an environment of innovation and risk taking. We collaborate across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, adopting new methodologies to drive better solutions. We engage with our city, our world, and our leaders every day to evaluate and test our ideas. And we lead with our passion for driving social change, knowing that passion alone does not equal impact. Job Summary Professor Bruce D. Meyer, the McCormick Foundation Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School, is seeking to hire two full-time Pre-Doctoral Fellows to join the Comprehensive Income Dataset (CID) Project for a two-year term starting in Summer 2026. The CID links government surveys with an unprecedented set of tax records and administrative program data, with the ultimate goal of being the most comprehensive and accurate income-related dataset ever created for the United States. The CID Project’s research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, cited in influential government publications such as the Economic Report of the President, and featured in media outlets such as the Economist, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and Washington Post. Pre-Doctoral Fellows will collaborate on research projects that further build the CID and use it to transform our understanding of economic well-being in the United States. Pre-Doctoral Fellows work closely with Professor Meyer and a core team of Ph.D. researchers – Derek Wu (University of Virginia) and Angela Wyse (Dartmouth College) – in all stages of the research process. Other researchers you may work with at the CID Project include Nikolas Mittag (CERGE-EI), James Sullivan (University of Notre Dame), and graduate students at the University of Chicago. As a fellow, you will link large and novel datasets to the CID; use cutting-edge statistical techniques to create more accurate measures of income and material deprivation; conduct sophisticated empirical analyses that have the potential to transform our understanding of economic well-being, poverty and highly vulnerable populations; prepare presentations and manuscripts; interact with outside academic experts and policy leaders involved with CID projects; and ultimately, coauthor papers submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The Pre-Doctoral Fellow position is ideal preparation for top Ph.D. programs in economics and related fields. Previous fellows have gone on to attend Ph.D. programs at Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, the University of California Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin, as well as obtain a Rhodes Scholarship. We seek Pre-Doctoral Fellow candidates who not only have exceptional technical skills and a proven ability to creatively tackle difficult empirical problems, but who are also passionate about advancing our understanding of some of the most deprived segments of the U.S. population and the programs that serve them. Furthermore, because our work is both highly challenging and necessarily collaborative, it is imperative that Pre-Doctoral Fellows be able to thrive in a team-based environment. Responsibilities Pre-Doctoral Fellows will collaborate on research projects that further build the CID and use it to transform our understanding of economic well-being in the United States. Perform routine assignments related to scientific research projects. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Writes articles, reports and manuscripts. Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project. Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens. Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents. Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through Certifications: Preferred Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics or related disciplines. Willingness and ability to obtain Special Sworn Status (requires 3 years of US residence within past 5 years) from the U.S. Census Bureau. Experience: Previous research experience. Technical Skills or Knowledge: Proficiency in Stata; ability to use other statistical software packages (e.g., SAS, R, or Python). Significant coursework or experience in programming. Preferred Competencies Strong interest in understanding poverty and issues affecting vulnerable populations. Proven ability to work effectively in small teams, demonstrating a strong desire to both learn from and mentor other team members. Drive and ability to develop a detailed understanding of areas ranging from cutting-edge econometric techniques to institutional details related to marginalized populations. Excellent oral and written communication skills. High attention to detail and quality in data analysis and written material. Significant knowledge of statistics and/or empirical economics research. Demonstrated ability to review and prioritize work independently and effectively. Demonstrated ability to be resourceful and creative in problem-solving. Working Conditions Pre-Doctoral Fellows will be based out of Chicago, IL. Application Documents Resume (required) Cover Letter (required) Reference Contact Information (required) Writing Sample (required) When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Research Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ? FLSA Status Exempt ? Pay Range $53,600.00 - $67,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Keywords: University of Chicago, DeKalb , Pre-Doctoral Fellow, Science, Research & Development , Chicago, Illinois