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Department: AI RISC

About the Department: Center for RISC is the brainchild of Steven Levitt, professor of economics at the University of Chicago and co‑author of Freakonomics. We are not an academic group or research lab. Instead, we investigate today’s social issues by combining unconventional perspectives with empirical data, generating radical solutions with real‑world relevance. We then test and scale those solutions through a mix of partnerships with academics, nonprofits, government agencies, international organizations, and private corporations. Currently, we’re focusing our efforts on building and scaling Project Donor, Foster Insights, and The Levitt Lab.

RISC is looking to hire an Analyst with diverse skills and backgrounds to work on tackling the world’s biggest problems. Analysts come from data science, economics, engineering, philosophy, journalism, software development, and political science, and have worked in research, consulting, tech, venture capital, and policy. Analysts research pressing social issues, identify promising solutions, and pilot those interventions in partnership with field‑experts. They also contribute to our portfolio of existing ventures based on their interests and expertise. We value clever ideas and the hustle to implement them. Our next hire will be eager to learn, unafraid of failure, and excited about making an impact, especially in the areas of Project Donor, Foster Insights, and The Levitt Lab.

• Contributes to projects in our portfolio of established social impact ventures. Specific roles may include data analysis, software engineering, case management, operations, etc.
• Quickly gets up to speed on social problems by conducting academic literature reviews, conversing with experts and potential pilot participants, analyzing data, and reviewing news articles and popular media.
• Identifies constructive approaches to hard problems and presents findings to colleagues, partners, and funders.
• Pilots new and unconventional solutions, either working with outside partners or driving an initiative within RISC. Solutions could range from building prototypes of new products to designing incentive structures to building and launching pilot programs.
• Participates in RISC culture through team brainstorms, lunch and learns, and supports on ad hoc tasks such as RISC hiring.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens.
• Conducts literature reviews.
• Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Performs other related work as needed.

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in a related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: None specified.

• Demonstrated qualitative research skills, such as surveying or conducting focus groups.
• Project management experience.
• Operations and/or fundraising experience.
• Subject matter expertise around a particular social issue.
• Life experience or academic training that informs a unique and creative framework for thinking about the world’s biggest problems.
• Technical skills or knowledge: Demonstrated proficiency in data science, such as R, Stata, SQL, Python; web and/or software development skills; product, UX, and/or human‑centered design skills; communications and/or media skills, including social media management and graphic design; familiarity with RCT/experimental design and implementation in a social science field.

• A self‑starter, able to juggle multiple priorities with minimal oversight.
• Intensely curious – eager to dive into new issue areas and draw conclusions.
• Comfortable with ambiguity – break down large problems and identify new directions without clear right answers.
• Amenable to changing your mind in the face of new information.
• Highly resilient. We work on challenging problems; good analysts are able to overcome setbacks without being discouraged.
• A strong communicator who can introduce complex ideas effectively, whether through written work or presentations.
• Work collaboratively and effectively on a small team, wearing multiple hats and honing our ad‑hoc processes.
• Comfortable working with and drawing conclusions from data.
• Inspired by our mission. No prior social good experience is necessary, but we want people who are interested in our work, regardless of previous paths.

Employees will be expected in our Chicago office 2–3 days per week.

Eligible. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.