Research Fellow – Harvard CID (Prof. Rema Hanna)

• United States of America

Summary of the Organization:

The Center for International Development (CID) is Harvard University’s hub for cutting-edge research on the world’s most pressing international development issues. Based at Harvard Kennedy School, CID brings researchers and practitioners together across the university to collaborate, using the latest analytical tools to address pressing development challenges. CID is reimagining development—investing in people, places, and ideas to build a thriving world for all. For more information on CID, visit here .

Summary of the Role:

CID research fellows work closely with faculty on specific research projects. Professor Rema Hanna’s current research topics include social protection, improving labor markets, increasing the efficiency of tax collection, and the intersection of urban mobility and climate change, with research settings in Indonesia, India, Morrocco, and other countries around the world. Our research methods focus on randomized evaluations and rigorous quasi-experimental designs, sometimes bringing in cutting-edge optimization methods from computer science and related fields to boost the potential impact of the solutions we test. We also work to synthesize the global body of evidence on the topics we study and close gaps between researchers and policymakers. Example projects include randomized experiments on expanding insurance coverage for informal workers in Indonesia; improving urban mobility through model-generated bus allocations, fare pricing, and private vehicle charges; outsourcing property tax assessments in India; and, in Morocco, public employment services, worker preferences for formal versus informal jobs, and coding education. These diverse projects are bound by the common threads of rigorous methods and high potential for real-world impact, and new projects form all the time as we work closely with policymakers to understand pressing issues and to develop and test solutions.

Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and bring highly valued technical skillsets and cultural perspectives to our research teams. Fellows receive mentoring from faculty, work with cutting-edge topics and research methods, and participate in a broad range of activities at Harvard. They are welcomed as members of the Harvard community and receive salary, benefits, and access to an array of university resources. Fellows are among the best and the brightest of future researchers and practitioners in Economics, Public Policy, and related fields, and many go on to top PhD programs or pursue careers outside of academia, supporting and implementing evidence-based policy from a variety of organizations. 

This specific fellowship be will under the direction of Professor Rema Hanna and focus on projects in Indonesia, India, and Morocco, with opportunities to interface with other researchers and support additional projects. We are seeking a full-time research fellow for one year, with the strong possibility of second-year renewal, starting in March-August 2026. The position will be based in Cambridge, MA, with the possibility of hybrid in-office/remote scheduling in accordance with university flexwork policies. 

Responsibilities:

• Clean and manage large datasets.
• Conduct statistical analyses in Stata.
• Develop survey instruments and data request documents for data collection.
• Create technical documentation for internal and external audiences.
• Conduct background research and literature reviews.
• Draft content for reports to policymakers, academic papers, grant proposals, research compliance protocols, and other project documents.
• Coordinate with a variety of research team members at CID and partner organizations, including those based internationally.
• Travel to project locations as needed.

Qualifications:

• Required
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, International Development, or related field requiring substantial coursework in math and economics.
  • Demonstrated academic excellence.
  • Proficiency in Stata, working with large, complex datasets.
  • Thorough understanding of randomized control trials and econometric methods.
  • Strong English oral and written communication skills.
  • Excellent command of Microsoft Office suite (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
  • Strong motivation, self-direction, and organizational skills.
  • Enthusiasm for collaborating with a diverse team, including international colleagues.
  • Willingness to travel internationally.
• Preferred
  • Master’s degree with graduate-level coursework in Economics and Econometrics
  • Proficiency in R, Python, and/or Julia
  • Experience with survey design and implementation using Qualtrics
  • Experience using GitHub
  • Experience with remote computing servers
  • Experience with the responsible use of generative AI tools
  • Relevant research experience, including complex data processing and causal effects estimation 
  • Familiarity with or interest in the academic literature on social protections, active labor market programs, financial inclusion, taxation, urban mobility, and related topics in development
  • Language skills in French, Arabic, or Indonesian are a plus, but certainly not required

See this and other positions here .

How to Apply

Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application . After completing a brief registration, choose the University-based Data Research Associate position type job category, then select " Research Fellow – Harvard CID (Prof. Rema Hanna) ” and include the following materials:

• Cover letter (one page max)
• CV
• Coding sample demonstrating data analysis skills in Stata (preferred), R, or Python. To ensure a blind, bias-free grading process, please redact your name or other information that could be used to identify you as a candidate (including versions of your name in referenced file paths) from anywhere it appears in the file. Applications with personal identifiers in the coding sample will be considered incomplete.
• Two letters of recommendation from academic (preferred) or professional references. You may submit your application before your references complete their recommendation letters; however, you must include their contact information before submitting your application. 
• Transcripts from all degrees competed and in-progress (including current course enrollment). Unofficial copies are acceptable.

Please note that we may also consider candidates for similar positions on other CID portfolios or at collaborating institutions. Please ‘opt-in to open recruitment’ when completing your J-PAL/IPA common application.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and will not be considered complete until all elements (excluding letters of recommendation) are received. Given the volume of applications received, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applicants chosen to move forward in the hiring process will be required to take a Stata exam, participate in multiple interviews, and provide additional materials as requested. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.