Full-Time Research Associate Position with Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

*Accepting applications from December 2015 or May/August 2016 graduates*

The Payments System Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is recruiting for the position of Research Associate. Our department studies consumer behavior, industrial organization, and public policy as it relates to the retail payments system. Recently, we have studied unbanked consumers’ payment and overdraft behaviors, costs of payment services incurred by merchants, conflicts and coordination among payments system participants when improving payment security, and the Federal Reserve’s role in modernizing the payments system.

Job responsibilities:

• Assisting Ph.D. economists on academic research projects and payment policy briefings.
• Gathering and analyzing data, performing basic econometric and statistical analyses, conducting literature reviews, and preparing Bank-internal and external presentations.
• With experience, a Research Associate may eventually write for Bank publications and deliver speeches to civic and educational groups.

This is an excellent position for someone considering a Master’s or Ph.D. in economics or a career in research and policy. Research Associates develop technical skills and are exposed to a broad range of economic research topics. Most Research Associates stay at the Bank for two to three years, at which point many attend graduate school or pursue other research opportunities in the public or private sector.

Required Education and Skills:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics or a closely related field, such as statistics, computer science, or math. A business degree with a quantitative focus will also be considered.
• Strong academic record.
• Excellent communication skills.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and spreadsheet software.
• Coursework or experience in econometrics, math, statistics, and statistical software packages (e.g., Stata, SAS, MATLAB, EViews, Gauss, SPSS).

To Apply:

• Click here to apply.
• Please attach your resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcript. 
• Only US citizens and citizens of Canada and Mexico who qualify for the TN visa will be considered. Foreign students with only Optional Practical Training are not eligible. 
• Please apply before December 31, 2015 to be considered. 
• Applications will be pre-screened prior to interview selections. You will receive notification if you have been selected for a phone interview. 

For more information on the Payments System Research Department and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, please visit us on the web at http://www.kansascityfed.org/research/bankingandpayments/.