Research Analyst

The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise is a nonpartisan business policy think tank affiliated with the UNC Kenan‑Flagler Business School. The institute leverages research to develop market‑based solutions for economic challenges in North Carolina and beyond.

The Research Analyst will provide research support on academic and translational research projects in collaboration with Kenan‑Flagler faculty, the institute’s Chief Economist, and institute staff. The role will involve data projects such as the North Carolina Economic Forecasting Initiative and the American Growth Project. The analyst will collaborate with the research services team and contribute to project design, team meetings, and knowledge dissemination.

• Perform statistical analysis and econometric modeling using software such as Stata, SAS, R, and Python to understand economic trends and evaluate policy outcomes.
• Identify, organize, and clean data; conduct literature reviews on economic and business topics to support research papers, white papers, and reports.
• Collaborate with analysts, economists, and stakeholders to scale the American Growth Project’s regional economic indicators and related content; participate in brainstorming, research design, and interdisciplinary discussions.
• Communicate research findings to diverse audiences through written and verbal communication, including white papers, Kenan Insights, policy briefs, and other translational materials.
• Manage project components, communicate progress to team members, and meet deadlines.

Minimum

Education and Experience Requirements:

Relevant post‑baccalaureate degree (or foreign equivalent). Equivalent Bachelor’s degree may be accepted with 3+ years of relevant experience. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Required Qualifications , Competencies, and

Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in economics, business, public policy, public administration, city and regional planning, statistics, mathematics, or a related field; familiarity with statistical software (STATA, SPSS, SAS, etc.).

• Two years of relevant work experience or a master’s degree.
• Familiarity with database structures and querying.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Experience with data visualization packages such as Tableau and spreadsheet/presentation software.
• Enthusiasm for persuasive, data‑driven arguments.
• Ability to work with academic and business partners.
• Experience using project management software such as Jira or

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.