Research Analyst 1

Location Evanston, Illinois Department & Salary Department: Kellogg GPRL, Salary/Grade: EXS/5 Job Summary The Global Poverty Research Lab (GPRL) at Northwestern University is hiring several full‑time Research Analysts for a two‑year term appointment based in Evanston, Illinois (Chicago area). Research Analysts will support a diverse portfolio of applied research projects, including panel survey data collection and analysis, research methods studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta‑analyses in areas such as mental health and social protection. Research Analysts gain hands‑on experience managing and analyzing data from multiple sources, contributing to research design discussions, and supporting project management across collaborative research teams. They work in an open, collaborative lab environment at Northwestern University and regularly interact with economics faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates from the Kellogg School of Management and the Department of Economics, as well as research staff at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). Specific Responsibilities Manage, clean, and analyze data from surveys, administrative sources, and experiments. Support the design and implementation of randomized controlled trials and methodological studies. Contribute to meta-analyses and evidence synthesis projects. Assist with project management, documentation, and coordination with external partners. Participate in research meetings and collaborate with faculty, students, and research staff. About the Global Poverty Research Lab (GPRL) Frontier Research : Conduct cutting‑edge research in development economics, including themes of mental health, agriculture, social protection, and renewable energy; co‑create and maintain long‑run panels with local universities, governments, and civil society that enable longer‑term insights and support layered randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Advance Research Methods : Develop and test improved approaches to measurement and learning, including questionnaire design, enumerator recruitment, and rapid‑cycle experiments (e.g., A/B, factorial, and micro‑randomized) that implementers can run using their own administrative data to tune delivery models, incentives, and other protocols. Aggregate Global Evidence : Build semi‑automated pipelines and AI‑assisted workflows to compile and structure scattered evidence from RCTs into living knowledge bases and run rigorous meta‑analyses; deliver insights via evidence syntheses, interactive dashboards, and publicly accessible data for donors, investors, and practitioners. Making Aid More Effective : Turn evidence into ready‑to‑use decision tools, "smart buys" menus, and ROI/cost‑effectiveness frameworks for donors, ministries, multilaterals, impact investors, and social enterprises. Application Instructions Must both apply through the Northwestern University Careers Site and complete the supplemental form located here: Minimum Qualifications Successful completion of a full 4‑year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree in economics or another quantitative major. Minimum Competencies Strong programming skills in Stata and/or R combined with the willingness to learn other statistical software. Strong quantitative skills (coursework in econometrics and statistics). Familiarity with randomized controlled trials. Excellent organizational skills. Fluency and excellent communication skills in English. Ability to seek resources and self‑teach new statistical, analytical, and programming techniques. Flexible, self‑motiving, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently. Preferred Qualifications An enthusiasm for empirical research. Experiences living or working in a developing country. Preferred Competencies Experience with reproducible research workflows, version control (GitHub), and modern documentation tools (Quarto, R Markdown). Familiarity with meta‑analytic methods or systematic review approaches. Demonstrated ability to build data quality assurance systems and manage collaborative data projects. Experience using advanced data infrastructure such as relational databases, API connections, and cloud computing. Familiarity working with a variety of machine learning models. Familiarity with other statistical, visualization or digital data collection software like ArcGIS/Python/SurveyCTO is a strong plus. Compensation The expected pay for this position is $58,500 annually, in alignment with departmental equity and market data. Benefits At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre‑tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at to learn more. Work-Life and Wellness Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more. Professional Growth & Development Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more. Equal Opportunity Employer Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process. #J-18808-Ljbffr Northwestern University