Predoctoral Research Assistant

About the Role

We seek a highly motivated aspiring future PhD student with a strong interest in economics, finance, and related social sciences, along with a desire to build a career in academic research. The ideal candidate is curious, analytical, and eager to learn, with the ability to carefully evaluate historical and legislative materials and synthesize findings into clear written work. They thrive in a collaborative research environment, pay close attention to detail, and are excited to develop the skills necessary for success in a doctoral program and research-focused career. The Predoctoral Research Assistant will work directly with Dr. Andrew Fieldhouse (Adam C. Sinn '00 Department of Finance, Mays Business School, Texas A&M University) and Dr. Karel Mertens (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas) to build, verify, and document a new narrative dataset of postwar changes in federal R&D tax policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Narrative Dataset Construction
• Fact-check and verify a narrative record of postwar federal R&D tax policy changes against primary sources, including congressional committee reports, hearing transcripts, Joint Committee on Taxation documents, Treasury materials, and presidential statements.
• Conduct archival and legislative research, and incorporate evidence from congressional hearings and JCT revenue estimates into the narrative record.
• Help adjudicate the classification of each policy change as exogenous or endogenous to short-run macroeconomic conditions, working jointly with the Principal Investigator (Dr. Fieldhouse) and Co-Project Lead (Dr. Mertens).
• Assemble and maintain the supporting data series, and document all sources and coding decisions so the dataset is replicable.
• Writing and Analysis
• Rewrite narrative entries in clear, consistent prose.
• Assist with drafting the introduction and methodology sections of the working paper.
• Conduct targeted literature reviews and summarize related work.
• Prepare tables, figures, and appendix material documenting the narrative record.
• Support faculty with short-term research-related tasks, which may include:
• Data retrieval
• Literature reviews
• Paper editing

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Education: Bachelor's degree in economics or finance completed by the start date.
• Programming & Data Management (Preferred): Skills in Stata, Python, R, SAS, or MATLAB.
• Coursework (Preferred): Relevant coursework such as econometrics, statistics, public economics, public finance, macroeconomics, innovation, or fiscal policy.
• Research Experience (Preferred):
• Quantitative research experience.
• Research experience with primary source documents (e.g., legal, legislative, or archival/historical documents).
• Tools (Preferred): Experience with LaTeX/Overleaf, copy editing, or bibliographic reference management.
• Software Proficiency: Working proficiency with Excel for assembling, cleaning, and documenting data series.

Qualifications & Skills

• Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to explain technical material in plain prose.
• Comfort reading dense primary source documents, including legislative and legal text.
• Meticulous attention to detail, high ethical standards, and high tolerance for verification work.
• Willingness to learn and acquire new skills as needed.
• Consistency in maintaining integrity and trust in all professional interactions.
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• A proactive, can-do attitude with a creative approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to work independently and think critically, not just carry out instructions.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Interest in pursuing graduate study in economics or finance.

Job Details

• Salary: $4,166.67 monthly.
• Appointment: 11-month appointment on a funded research project measuring the economic returns to federal investment in research and development.
• Work Schedule: May have to work on weekends and/or after normal hours.
• Travel: Includes a funded research visit to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; may travel as needed.
• Application Materials: A cover letter and resume are required.