Research Assistant in Development Economics

Join Our Research Initiative

The Development Economics Group (DEC) at ETH Zurich is committed to advancing empirical economics research aimed at crafting impactful policies to tackle global poverty and inequalities. Our mission centers around developing social innovations that can significantly reduce these challenges through rigorous empirical and experimental economic research.

Your Role and Responsibilities

This engagement offers a unique opportunity to gain research experience between obtaining your Master’s degree and pursuing a Ph.D. program. The successful candidate will:

• Clean and manage data sets while conducting or replicating statistical analyses in preparation for academic publications.
• Visualize research findings and perform literature reviews and data searches.
• Assist with various organizational tasks essential to the efficient operation of our research group.

Qualifications

We are looking for individuals who meet the following criteria:

• A Master’s degree in economics, statistics, or development studies.
• A strong background in quantitative methods coupled with a keen interest in coding.
• A passion for exploring topics related to global poverty and inequality.
• Proficiency in statistical software such as R and/or STATA is essential.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written.
• Familiarity with InDesign and knowledge of French or German are advantageous but not mandatory.
• Previous experience within an international organization focused on global development is a plus.

Our Team and Values

Our team consists of a diverse group of highly motivated economists and data scientists dedicated to analyzing global inequalities and contributing to sustainable development solutions. We maintain close ties with NADEL, a multidisciplinary unit dedicated to educating future leaders in global cooperation and development, fostering collaborations between researchers, civil society, NGOs, governments, and industry to promote innovations benefiting the global community.

We champion values such as open discourse, diversity, and empathy, and we are driven by curiosity and innovation in our research pursuits. Interdisciplinary collaboration and public service are encouraged within our culture.

Important Dates

The position will commence on September 1, 2026, for a duration of six months, with a monthly compensation noted in our terms. Interviews are expected to take place at the beginning of July. Stay tuned for more details about our online platform where relevant documents should be submitted by June 5, 2026.

We invite you to explore further information about our research group on our website. For inquiries related to this position, please reach out to our team contact, Kenneth Harttgen.