Research Assistant (temporary position)

The Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES) is seeking a full-time research assistant to support an active research agenda in applied microeconomics. The research assistant will work closely with the PI, PhD students, and other research assistants in a collaborative research environment focused on labor economics and human capital formation.

IIES is one of the leading research institutes in economics in the Nordic countries and Europe. The institute aims to produce leading economic research on important societal issues. The Institute is an international workplace with English as the working language. We value a committed, dynamic and collaborative work environment.

More information about us, please visit: The Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES).

Main responsibilities

The research assistant will contribute to several ongoing projects using large administrative microdata and experimental data from Brazil. These projects study skill formation, labor market matching, firm behavior, and belief formation, using a combination of experimental methods, reduced-form econometric approaches, and text-as-data techniques to address policy-relevant questions.

The position offers hands-on work in several stages of the empirical research process, including data construction, econometric analysis, and preparation of research outputs. The research assistant will be working with the project leader and will receive regular feedback.

The research assistant’s main tasks will include building, cleaning, and linking large administrative and survey datasets using Stata, and R or Python; implementing reproducible data-cleaning and analysis pipelines with clear documentation; conducting econometric analysis, robustness checks, and replications; and applying text-as-data methods to job vacancy and CV data.

Qualification requirements

The applicant should have:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in economics or a closely related quantitative field (e.g., statistics, data science, mathematics, computer science, engineering)
• Strong programming skills in at least one of Stata, R, or Python; if not familiar with Stata, willingness to learn it and become fluent, as it is the main programming language in the project.
• Experience working with data, including cleaning, merging, and transforming large datasets
• Ability to debug code, work independently on technical problems, and write clear, well-documented code.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required, as English is the working language in the project.

Preferred candidates will have prior experience working with large administrative datasets, particularly employer–employee matched data such as Brazil’s RAIS. Familiarity with text-as-data methods, such as processing and analyzing unstructured text from job vacancies or CVs, is an advantage. Strong training in econometrics beyond the introductory level (for example, advanced econometrics, causal inference, or panel data methods) is also desirable. The ability to read technical documentation and administrative materials in Portuguese is a strong advantage, but not a requirement.

The ideal candidate is motivated to learn new methods, programming languages, and research tools, and takes pride in producing careful, well-documented work. They are detail-oriented, systematic, and able to follow established research protocols while working independently on technical tasks. They know when to ask questions, flag uncertainties early, and keep their work clearly annotated to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

In the evaluation process, much emphasis will be put on personal qualities.

About the employment

This is a full-time position with a duration of six months. The preferred starting date is May 1 2026, although some flexibility is possible by mutual agreement. Salaries at Stockholm University are determined individually.

We offer

We offer the dynamics in the interaction between higher education and research which makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment. You will be working in an international environment and get advantageous conditions.  The university is located in Nationalstadsparken with good connections to the city center.  

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact 
Further information about the position can be obtained from Assistant Professor Laia Navarro Sola, laia.navarrosola@iies.su.se

Application

Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Only include the cover letter and CV in your application. Bring copies of grades and certificates if you are called to an interview.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.