Student Assistant at KOF Swiss Economic Institute

The KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich is the leading institute for applied research in economics in Switzerland.

KOF has a strong collaborative environment that promotes exchange between research and administrative staff across different levels and functions and is committed to rigorous, applied research on policy-relevant topics with a connection to Switzerland.

For several ongoing and large-scale field experiments in Switzerland and abroad, we're looking for individuals with a strong interest in research in applied economic topics (public economics, health, labor markets) and a desire of getting a glimpse into rigorous, applied research. Prior experience in handling and analyzing data using statistical software packages such as STATA and/or R is required and a strong interest and drive in developing these skills further is expected. Since many research tasks involve researching and summarizing media and government websites, policy reports and research papers in German and English (and sometimes French) and clarifying questions with local stakeholders, strong communication skills in these languages are required. 

Tasks typically include:

• Data cleaning and (descriptive) analysis using statistical software packages such as Stata or R
• Collecting data using web scrapers 
• Programming surveys with Qualtrics
• Investigating relevant aspects of policies, regulations, and events in online (Swiss) media outlets and summarizing them in policy briefs
• Screening and summarizing the relevant literature for research questions
• Acquiring information from and coordinating with (Swiss) government offices or data providers 
• Supporting research staff in field research and data collection

You must be enrolled at a Swiss University and willing to work between 1 to 2 days per week (15h). At KOF, working time is typically handled very flexibly such that you can take time to study for exams or fulfil other obligations for your studies while coordinating with the research staff at KOF when tasks need to be completed. Ideally, we are looking for individuals who can stay employed as a student assistant for at least one year (e.g., while taking courses for their Bachelor's or Master's degree), possibly longer. Please indicate in your cover letter, how long you would be willing to work at KOF and also if you plan to do a student exchange abroad in the near future. 

ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity and attractive offers and benefits.