Payroll Title: FIELD RESEARCHER 2 Department: RADY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Hiring Pay Scale 62,000 / Year Worksite: Other Appointment Type: Contract Appointment Percent: 100% Union: Uncovered Total Openings: 1 Work Schedule: Days, 8 hrs/day, Mon - Fri #134423 Social Sciences Researcher/Predoc -1 year contract Filing Deadline: Fri 5/16/2025 Apply Now UC San Diego values equity, diversity, and inclusion. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply. This is a 100% Contract position for 1 year with possibility of extension or conversion to career status depending on progress and funding. Position will be based out of Chicago, IL and will travel to the UC San Diego campus a few times a year. DESCRIPTION Under direct guidance of Rady School of Management faculty (Anya Samek), the Social Sciences Researcher applies acquired skills and knowledge of applicable research discipline to support field research projects of small to medium size and intermediate scope and complexity and will be based out of Chicago, IL. This position assists Rady School of Management with research projects and supports those projects, with data management and analysis support. The research projects have a strong focus on topics in education, health, housing, inequality, and racial, ethnic, and gender disparities. The research also has direct impacts for policy and practice. The primary responsibilities include cleaning research data, analyzing data and engaging in field research, such as contacting study participants and conducting interviews or reaching out to schools and community organizations to request administrative data, transfer of data from a variety of sources. The position conducts literature reviews and summarizes current/recent findings available in journal articles, enters research data and information into spreadsheets and systems, may prepare and review data for publication, assists with grant applications, may contribute to writing research progress reports, and performs other general administrative tasks related to the research project. Projects the Researcher may work on include: * Evaluating the educational investments that improve health outcomes for children * Field studies investigating the impact of nudges on physical activity * General behavioral/experimental economics or behavioral finance topics * Field studies investigating the impact of nudges on physical activity * Studies on the role of deception in advice-giving * Studies on institutional power and economic inequality * Studies documenting and quantifying the distributional impact of different policies related to housing and voting laws * Studies investigating possible discrimination and disparities in small business lending * Studies evaluating the effect of educational investments on health outcomes for children and young adults * Studies documenting and quantifying the distributional impact of different policies related to (i) housing and (ii) voting along racial and ethnic lines including the distributional impact arising from property tax policy and from the Voting Rights Act. ~Position will be based out of Chicago, IL and will travel to the UC San Diego campus a few times a year. QUALIFICATIONS * The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's or Master's degree, and will be seeking hands-on research experience prior to pursuing further graduate studies in economics, business, finance or a related field. * Experience or college coursework in research design, data collection and processing, and data analysis. * Experience with statistical software and analysis (e.g. with Stata, R, Python, Matlab, or Excel). * Proficient research and analytical skills. Analytical and critical thinking skills to identify causal relationships, and to compile, synthesize, and interpret data and results. Theoretical knowledge to discern and document a pattern of results, and the theoretical knowledge to analyze results and data. * Experience conducting thorough literature searches; experience locating and evaluating reliable, scholarly source materials. * Experience with data entry, data collection, and data cleaning. * Organizational and administrative skills to coordinate and track the many steps and tasks associated with a research project, including hiring student workers, creating simple budgets, learning university procedures, estimating timelines, Meticulous record keeping. Accuracy. * Working knowledge of research discipline, principles, concepts, analysis and / or operations being conducted at field / remote sites. * Prioritization and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines with minimal supervision. Time management skills. Ability to to keep team updated on progress or anticipated barriers to progress. PREFERRED: * Interest in obtaining hands-on research experience prior to pursuing further graduate studies in economics, business, finance or a related field. * Previous education/interest/education in general behavioral/experimental economics or behavioral finance topics (examples among many topics: early education/educational investments that improve health outcomes for children; field studies investigating the impact of behavioral reminders on physical activity; the distributional impact of different policies related to (i) housing and (ii) voting along racial and ethnic lines related to property tax policy and from the Voting Rights Act) SPECIAL CONDITIONS * Job offer is contingent on clear Background Check. * This is a full-time, 1 year contract appointment. * This position is required to work in Chicago, IL and will travel to the UC San Diego campus a few times per year. Pay Transparency Act Annual Full Pay Range: $58,600 - $100,800 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%) Hourly Equivalent: $28.07 - $48.28 Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable). Apply Now If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.