Research Assistant

• For informal queries about the role, please contact Federico Rossi, Associate Professor, at

The Research Assistant will support the Project Lead Federico Rossi and collaborators in the successful execution of the project “
Human Capital, the Organization of Production and Economic Development” funded by an ERC/UKRI Starting Grant 2023.

The project will leverage micro-level data from multiple countries and novel theoretical frameworks to shed light on how the accumulation and utilization of different types of skills is shaped by and can facilitate the adaptation to some of the most pressing challenges faced by the global economy: population ageing, climate change, and the reallocation of workers across economic activities.

The position is particularly suitable for someone interested in pursuing a PhD in Economics or related fields. Pre-doctoral Research Assistants previously working on this project have been admitted to prestigious PhD programs at New York University and Imperial College London.

The Research Assistant will benefit from extensive mentoring from the Project Leader and his collaborators and will have the opportunity to develop several skills useful for conducting academic research.

We require an individual who has an interest in the research area, who is pro-active and willing to work as part of a team.

The work will involve collecting and harmonizing micro-level data from countries at different levels of development to construct novel facts on the accumulation and utilization of human skills in a variety of contexts. The Research Assistant will also collaborate to the development and estimation of theoretical models that will be used to assess the impacts of several educational and training policies on economic development.

The job will involve close collaboration and frequent interactions with the Project Leader and his collaborators.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below.

The Department of Economics has become widely regarded as one of the top economics department in the UK and Europe. We consistently rank highly in leading UK and international subject league tables and are currently ranked 1st in the Good University Guide 2026.

In the Research Excellence Framework () 2021, which assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions, 99% of the Department’s research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent - placing us 2nd in the UK for economics.

We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK
.
* Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent
.*

Find out more about us at  .

* World University Ranking 2026 , Complete University Guide 2026

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

We provide a comprehensive range of benefits, including:

• An attractive pension scheme.
• 26 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
• Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
• Onsite childcare facilities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements.

Where possible, we offer hybrid working arrangements that combine office-based and remote working. Opportunities for hybrid working will depend on the requirements of the role, business needs of the department and can be discussed during the recruitment process.

For more information, see here .

We are proud to be a Living Wage employer .

We wish to advise applicants that this role is not eligible for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa. If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK you will need to check the UK Government Website to see if you are eligible to obtain the right to work in the UK through one of the other UK immigration routes before you make your application.