Research Assistant - Market Shaping Accelerator
The Center for Global Development (CGD) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit policy research organization in Washington, DC, and London, UK that focuses on the issues and institutions critical to inclusive development. Through rigorous empirical research and active engagement with the global policy community, CGD focuses on the intersections between the policy and financial priorities of low- and middle-income countries and the governments, institutions, and corporations that can be partners in delivering greater progress.
Founded by Rachel Glennerster, Michael Kremer and Christopher Snyder, the Market Shaping Accelerator (MSA), housed at CGD, aims to catalyze the development of advance market commitments and other market shaping mechanisms to incentivize innovations addressing pressing global challenges including global health, pandemic preparedness, climate, AI safety, and drug repurposing.
MSA is hiring a Research Assistant based in Washington D.C. The Research Assistant will work with Professor Christopher Snyder of Dartmouth, Professor Rachel Glennerster of the University of Chicago and CGD, and other MSA colleagues to support the development and adoption of high-impact market-shaping proposals designed to incentivize innovations addressing climate change, pandemic threats, global health challenges, and other pressing global problems. The position offers excellent preparation for graduate study or a future policy career.
Responsibilities: Economic appraisal and quantitative modeling of market-shaping proposals (40%), including benefit-cost and cost-effectiveness analysis, estimating potential benefits of innovation, market size and cost of market shaping incentives, microeconomic modeling, and data analysis in Stata, R, Python and/or MATLAB; policy and sector analysis related to climate change, global health and pandemic preparedness (25%), including writing and revising drafts for policymakers and economists and analysis of market dynamics, structure, regulatory environment and implementation challenges; desk research to identify promising candidate problems for market-shaping interventions (25%); communication and coordination with stakeholders (10%).
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in economics or a related field including coursework in intermediate microeconomics and multivariable calculus or equivalent; strong quantitative skills and experience with empirical research methods and/or microeconomic modeling; programming experience in at least one relevant language such as Stata, R, Python or MATLAB; excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills; strong written and oral communication skills; ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-moving research environment. Preferred: advanced quantitative preparation (linear algebra, probability, statistics and econometrics, real analysis, ordinary differential equations, advanced microeconomics); demonstrated interest in climate change, pandemic preparedness, global health or related policy areas. Some domestic and possibly international travel may be required.
Salary range: $54,500 - $60,000. Hybrid environment with staff required to be in the office at least three days per week; CGD is registered to employ staff living in DC, Maryland and Virginia and is unable to sponsor work authorization for this position.
Closing date: 2026-11-19
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online via the CGD application portal. Application documents required: Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Writing Sample (ideally an independently written quantitative paper), Unofficial Transcripts, and contact information for 3 professional references. Closing date: October 15 at 11:59 pm ET. There may be an additional hiring round in early 2027.
https://centerforglobaldevelopment.applytojob.com/apply/gS6SSb6wjR/Research-Assistant-Market-Shaping-Accelerator