Research Assistant (Economics)

Summary

Good Business Lab is a research organization conducting evidence-based studies to improve labor market and social outcomes. The Research Assistant will support randomized evaluations across AI-assisted job matching and cash incentives for continuity of care, contributing to study design, data collection, fieldwork, partner coordination, research compliance, and policy communications.

Responsibilities

• Support study design through scoping exercises, qualitative surveys, and literature reviews
• Design and pilot survey instruments; monitor data quality and resolve issues promptly
• Expand the set of simulated task assessments for various occupations, by referencing the repository of simulated tasks from the prior trial, as part of the AI-assisted job matching project. These are online exercises through which candidates demonstrate occupation-specific skills, used as part of the study's evaluation approach
• Conduct fieldwork and travel to project sites occasionally
• Liaise with implementation partners to align timelines, share updates, and troubleshoot challenges
• Coordinate with administrative and finance teams on participant payments and study-related costs
• Identify threats to research design, propose solutions, and escalate to researchers as needed
• Ensure adherence to research and data protocols, including IRB approval, coding standards, and analysis procedures
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation — codebooks, field protocols, and project logs — to academic standards of transparency and reproducibility
• Prepare policy memos and research briefs on ongoing and completed studies

Skills

• The candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Location: Remote (U.S.)
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software such as Stata or R
• Experience conducting fieldwork, including designing, scoping, and fielding surveys
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel/spreadsheet applications
• Strong familiarity with data science principles and AI coding platforms (e.g., Claude Code, Codex/GPT), among others
• Strong organizational and self-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects independently and meet deadlines
• Detail-oriented with strong written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel occasionally to project sites
• Experience with digital data collection platforms such as SurveyCTO is preferred but not required

Qualifications

Must Haves

• the candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Location: Remote (U.S.)
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software such as Stata or R
• Experience conducting fieldwork, including designing, scoping, and fielding surveys
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel/spreadsheet applications
• Strong familiarity with data science principles and AI coding platforms (e.g., Claude Code, Codex/GPT), among others
• Strong organizational and self-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects independently and meet deadlines
• Detail-oriented with strong written and oral communication skills
• Willingness to travel occasionally to project sites

Nice to Haves

• Experience with digital data collection platforms such as SurveyCTO is preferred but not required

Benefits

• Remote (U.S.)