Research Assistant (Crime and Justice)

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is hiring a Research Assistant to support ongoing work on the effects of youth clubs on youth development. The Research Assistant will work closely with Dr. Carmen Villa and become an active part of the intellectual life of the Education and Skills research sector, the Crime and Justice group, and the broader IFS community.

The ideal candidate will have excellent quantitative skills, proficiency in STATA, notions of data management, and experience writing academic and policy reports. An interest in academic research and real policy impact is essential. This placement would be particularly suitable for someone seeking pre-doctoral experience.

About the IFS

The IFS is Europe’s leading independent microeconomic research institute. Our goal is to promote effective economic and social policies by better understanding how policies affect individuals, families, businesses and the government’s finances. We communicate our findings widely, impacting upon the policy debate, the media, and policymakers.

The Research Assistant will work with IFS researchers, Post-Doctoral Fellows and PhD scholars. The Research Assistant will participate in events and seminars; and collaborate with a range of research and policy partners.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop research and analytical skills, work with diverse data sources and teams, learn about real-life research work and contribute towards building the evidence base on the effectiveness of public policies on youth development.

Job description

The Research Assistant will be responsible for:

• Conducting primary research to construct new databases, with guidance from the study leads;
• Mapping the availability of administrative and survey data, coordinating data access processes, and cleaning, organising, and documenting secondary data ready for analysis;
• Replicating existing analyses, with guidance from the study leads;
• Developing new analyses data, with guidance from the study leads;
• Assisting in drafting academic papers, reports, and policy briefs;
• Contributing to the design of new high-quality, rigorous research projects which have both an academic interest and policy effects;
• Participating in internal presentations and external discussions with stakeholders;
• Contributing actively to intellectual life within the Education and Skills team, the Criminal Justice groups and IFS more broadly, through regular participation in team meetings and seminars;
• Supporting the team to successfully deliver other project outcomes.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

The IFS recruits self-motivated and effective individuals with a record of exceptional success in their academic study or professional experience of economics. The ability to work independently is essential. The ability to analyse large and complex datasets is an important skill required for this position. The ability to read and synthesise relevant literature and write clearly are also crucial. This position is a good preparation for a PhD in Economics (equivalent to pre-doctoral programs in other institutions).

The successful candidate will have:

• A master’s degree in economics;
• Proficiency in STATA coding and micro-econometric skills;
• Excellent data processing and analysis skills
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills and a strong attention to detail;
• Strong organisational and administrative skills and the ability to work in a systematic, thorough manner;
• Well-developed writing skills, including the ability to explain complex economic ideas in plain language;
• Good interpersonal skills and experience of working effectively in a diverse team;
• The ability to think creatively, work independently and take initiative to promote successful project outcomes;
• An interest in the economic analysis of both public policy and education and crime issues, and a motivation to bridge the gap between academic research and issues of practical policy design or evaluation;

Desirable:

• Experience of working with individual-, household- and/or administrative data and of cleaning challenging and raw datasets;
• At least 1 year of work or research experience, preferably in public policy;
• Accredited Researcher status: https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/statistics/requestingstatistics/secureresearchservice/becomeanaccreditedresearcher
• A willingness to travel if required.

Location

This role will be primarily based at the IFS office in central London. The Research Assistant is expected to work on-site at least three days a week.

Employment type and duration

Full-time, fixed-term contract for 18 months (or as agreed).

Start date: 1st September 2025.

Application process

Apply via BeApplied by submitting a single PDF containing your CV and a cover letter (ideally 1 page) explaining your suitability for the role. We are particularly interested in learning about your experience creating and managing databases and your proficiency in STATA.

Selected applicants will be notified around mid-July and invited to one round of interview in person in our office. The interviews will take be held the week commencing on the 14th July, exact dates TBC. If you cannot make those dates, please let us know in your cover letter and we might try to find another suitable time.

Eligibility

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. The successful candidate should have the right to work in the UK.

Commitment to diversity

We aim to foster a respectful and inclusive environment, in which people from all backgrounds feel – and are – welcome and valued. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, and flexible working arrangements wherever possible, so that staff can work in ways that suit their personal circumstances. Read more here.

Personal Data Disclaimer

IFS will manage this recruitment process. Details of the IFS's privacy policy can be found here.