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Title Pre-Doctoral Fellowship (Profs. Laibson/Choi/Beshears)

School Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Department/Area Economics

Position Description

Economics professors David Laibson (Harvard University), James Choi (Yale University), and John Beshears (Harvard Business School) are hiring a full‐time predoctoral fellow to start work in mid-June 2026. This position will last until mid-July 2027, with a potential second-year renewal, and will involve work on theoretical and empirical research related to behavioral economics, decision making, household finance, and health behaviors. The research uses observational field data, experimental data, and field experiments.

Salary is $68,000 annually, plus benefits. Expected start date is mid-June 2026. Visa sponsorship is available.

For examples of our research, see our faculty pages:

+ https://scholar.harvard.edu/laibson/home

+ https://faculty.som.yale.edu/jameschoi/

+ http://www.hbs.edu/jbeshears

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

+ Performing statistical analyses on large databases

+ Designing and running experiments

+ Structural modelling and related econometrics

+ Proving theoretical results

Basic Qualifications

+ Bachelor’s degree by start date (required)

+ Strong programming and quantitative skills, including coursework in multivariable calculus, matrix algebra, probability, and statistics (required)

+ Previous experience estimating econometric models (strongly preferred)

+ Interest in applying to a quantitative PhD program and pursuing an academic career (strongly preferred)

We prefer research assistants who want to become professional economists, but we’re interested in future PhDs in any quantitative field. Our past full‐time RAs have enrolled in the following PhD programs: Harvard economics (15), Harvard business economics (5), Harvard public policy (2), MIT economics (8), MIT operations research (1), Princeton economics (1), University of Chicago Booth – finance (2), University of Chicago Booth – economics (2), University of Chicago history (1), UC Berkeley economics (3), Yale economics (1), Columbia economics (1), NYU Stern economics (1), Stanford economics (1) and Northwestern economics (1).

Additional Qualifications

Special Instructions

Submit your (1) cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for the position, (2) resume, and (3) unofficial transcript. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Qualified applicants will be invited to complete a data analysis task to demonstrate quantitative and programming proficiency.

Highly qualified applicants will be invited to interview with our team and provide up to 3 references.

Contact Information

Megan Gaudreau

Contact Email [email protected]

Salary Range

Minimum Number of References Required

Maximum Number of References Allowed

Keywords

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity (https://hr.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum6281/files/2025-04/reaffirmation\_statement.pdf) policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy (https://provost.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3356/files/2025-07/non-discrimination\_and\_anti-bullying\_policies.pdf) . Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Supplemental Questions