Research Assistant (Crime and Justice)

Salary £34,000 - £37,000 (GBP) Depending on qualifications and experienceSeniority Junior, Mid-levelClosing: 11:59pm, 6th Jul 2026 BST

Job Description

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 Dr. Sarah Cattan 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, knowledge of economics and econometrics, proficiency in STATA, an understanding of how to carefully organise and manage complex datasets, 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 IFSThe 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 expected to:

Amend code to replicate existing analyses, with guidance from the study leads;Write code to develop new analyses, with guidance from the study leads;Assist in drafting academic papers, reports, and policy briefs;Participate in internal presentations and external discussions with stakeholders;Contribute actively to intellectual life within the Education and Skills team, the Criminal Justice team, and IFS more broadly, through regular participation in team meetings and seminars;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 skillsThe 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;As this position relies on accessing secure data, the successful candidate will need to become an Accredited Researcher.

We will support the successful candidate with an application for AR status prior to their start date.

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;LocationThis 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 durationFull-time, fixed-term contract for 12 or 18 months.

Start date: 1st September 2026 (or as arranged)

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 early-July and invited to one round of online interviews.

The interviews will be held on working days and UK working hours between the 10th and the 15th of July, exact dates TBC. If you cannot make those dates, please let us know in your cover letter and we might be able 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.
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