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 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.

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:

• 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;
• 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;
• 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;

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 12 or 18 months. Start date: 1st September 2026 (or as arranged).

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.