Back Research Assistant Consultant

Research Assistant Consultant

Background of this search:

To achieve sustainable and equitable development in the region, the Research Department (RES) generates new ideas to enrich the knowledge base supporting the policy agenda of the Bank and its member countries. To maximize the impact of its research, RES carries out activities that serve as inputs to Bank departments, governments, academia, and public opinion in the region.

The team’s mission:

RES advises management on economic and development issues, conducts research and analysis on macro - and microeconomics trends, and oversees the development of the Bank’s quantitative and analytical databases. RES’s staff consists of a team of researchers with excellent academic credentials, superior research and policymaking experience, and expertise in different areas.

What you’ll do:

Selected candidates will work with RES researchers and perform the following activities:

• Assist researchers in the preparation of research papers, reports, and presentations.
• Identify, compile, and organize databases.
• Perform econometric and statistical analyses.
• Prepare literature reviews.
• Participate in academic discussions on research findings.
• Provide support in project management or field experiments.

  Depending on the merit of the intellectual contribution to the research agenda, the Research Fellow Program sometimes provides Fellows with the opportunity to co-author papers with RES researchers. After working in RES, Research Fellows typically go on to pursue their Ph.D. or master’s studies. In recent years, Fellows have gone to Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Columbia, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and others.

  What you’ll need:

  • Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents.
  • Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB Group.
  • Education: Bachelor´s degree in Economics, Public Policy, or related field preferred. Candidates should have a strong quantitative background. Prospects of engaging in master or doctoral-level studies preferred.
  • Experience: At least two years of relevant experience in applied research at a recognized university, research center, or government agency. Strong background in econometrics, mathematics, and statistics. Experience in applied econometric methodologies and econometric packages such as Stata, MATLAB, Dynare, R, QGIS, or EViews. Advanced programming level preferred. Some basic programming experience (e.g., Fortran, Python, Perl, C) is desirable. Demonstrated experience in at least one of the following areas: [Candidates should specify the area(s) for which they are applying]:

    Microeconomics: Demonstrated experience in any of the following areas: economics of education, health, housing, urban, environment, poverty and inequality, development, labor, microfinance, public finance, behavioral economics, or political economy. Use of household or labor force surveys, economic/population census, administrative tax records, an/or industry surveys in cross-section or panel formats. Experience with applied micro econometrics, causal inference methods, program evaluation, discrete choice models and/or estimation of structural models.

    Macroeconomics, banking, and finance: Demonstrated experience in some of the following areas: open macro and international finance, monetary and fiscal policy, growth and development, productivity, debt sustainability analysis, banking, and finance. Experience in macroeconomics modeling, including VARs, Panel VARs, local projection methods, DSGE modeling or panel data methods for macroeconomics.

    • Languages: Command of at least two of the Bank’s official languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French.

      Core and Technical Competencies:

      • Motivation to do research.
      • Ability to work independently, and willingness to participate in research teams.