Poverty Research Technical Fellow

The Poverty Research Unit (PRU) publishes the NYCgov poverty measure for New York City that is a nationally recognized metric for evaluating and targeting policies intended to reduce poverty. The NYCgov poverty measure has become an important tool for evaluating policies, assessing the progress the city has made over time in reducing poverty, and designing new policies to reduce current levels of economic deprivation. NYC Opportunity also releases an annual brief on the economic condition of immigrants in New York City, connecting economic outcomes to legal status.

We are seeking an interested candidate for a technical fellow position specializing in developing and implementing measures of poverty and economic mobility. This paid fellowship which has an expected start of September 2024 offers flexible hours, up to 20 hours per week, with a minimum one-year commitment desired.

  Responsibilities

Technical fellows will collaborate closely with PRU staff on multiple research projects that involve data processing, statistical analysis, and report writing.

Examples of specific responsibilities could include:

  • Supporting the modeling of policy alternatives and their comparative outcomes (e.g., anti-poverty impacts, distributional consequences, and fiscal efficiency).
  • Assisting in assessing the statistical soundness of models, reviewing model performance, and recommending action plans to address deficiencies.
  • Contributing to report writing and blog posts.

    • Fellows will primarily work under a supervisor who will assist with prioritization and workflow, but assignments will come from various sources within the office. Fellows will work on several specific projects and/or develop an area of specialization, have opportunities to work independently and as part of a team, and fully participate in the activities of a fast-paced mayoral office.

  Education and Experience

This fellowship is open to candidates who have completed or nearly completed MA/MS in Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, or other relevant fields; Ph.D. students are preferred.

  Benefits and Compensation

The hourly rate for the fellowship is $27.50/hr and does not offer health benefits.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to provide sponsorship to prospective employees.

This position will require work from our office in Downtown Brooklyn.

  Skills We're Seeking

Commitment to the mission of advancing greater equality and opportunity.

Strong quantitative & programming skills.

Ability to present ideas cleraly and concisely in writing and orally.

High level of proficiency in statistical programming language (e.g., R or Stata) as well as Microsoft Excel, Word, and Power Point

Basic econometric training and experience and familiarity with the linear regression model as well as maximum-likelihood estimator.

Experience working with large public survey data is a plus.

Well-developed interpersonal and team-working skills.

An interest in poverty and income distribution

Background in labor or health economics, childcare or welfare policy, and/or applied econometrics is preferred.

  How to Apply

The application window for the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity Fellowships is now closed.