Associate - Behavioural Science

Keystone is a premier economics, technology, and strategy consulting firm built to help companies lead through transformation. As breakthrough innovations reshape industries, redefine competition and change our society, complex and highly competitive ecosystems emerge. Keystone advises technology leaders, Fortune 100 companies, their legal counsel, and governments on business, economic, litigation, and regulatory strategy in relation to these innovations and competitive eco-systems. We operate globally from offices in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, London, Dubai, and Washington, D.C.

This role sits at the intersection of technology, markets, and human behaviour, applying behavioural science to high-stakes business, regulatory, and litigation questions.

In this role you will use behavioural economics, psychology, and marketing science to analyse how consumers and firms respond to information, incentives, and choice architecture. This includes designing surveys and experiments, analysing observational data, and synthesizing evidence to assess consumer beliefs, decision-making, and market outcomes, drawing on established methods and design principles, supported typically by behavioural academic research and literature.

Your work directly informs expert opinions, regulatory assessments, and litigation outcomes.

Our recent work has involved:

• Analysinghow defaults, disclosures, and information design affect consumer and advertiserbehaviour.
• Conducting conjoint and simulation-based studies to assess switching, preferences, and competitive effects.
• Evaluating consumer understanding of data use, privacy practices, and platform communications.
• Designing experiments to assess how marketing claims and disclosures influence purchasing decisions and willingness to pay.
• Desig ning and criti quing consumer and bus ines s surveys fo r use in competi tion and merger litigation

Keystone teams are highly interdisciplinary. While you will specialize in behavioural science, you will contribute across a broad range of questions and practice areas, typically working alongside economists, data scientists and technologists.

Key Responsibilities

As an Associate or Consultant, you will:

• Own core analytical workstreams from design through execution.
• Work across economics, strategy, and technology engagements.
• Adapt quickly to new problem areas and apply your skillset in unfamiliar contexts
• Synthesize findings into clear, decision-relevant insights

Data Analysis

• Design and execute surveys,behaviouralexperiments, and simulation-basedstudies.
• Analyse observational and experimental data using Python, R, Stata, or similar tools.
• Apply methods such as conjoint analysis, choice modelling, and causal inference.
• Evaluate robustness, test alternative specifications, and assess limitations to ensure defensible results.
• Own end-to-end workstreams, from study design through analysis and interpretation.

Research

• Conduct targeted research across behavioural economics, psychology, and marketing science.
• Review academic literature, prior cases, and regulatory materials.
• Adapt established methodologies to case-specific questions.
• Develop hypotheses and analytical approaches by integrating qualitative and quantitative evidence.

Report Writing

• Translate analyses into clear, precise, and persuasive narratives.
• Draft sections of expert reports explaining methodology, results, and implications.
• Develop exhibits (tables, charts, figures) to communicate findings effectively.
• Ensure all work is well-documented, reproducible, analytically rigorous and able to withstand scrutiny.

What You’ll Bring

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in Behavioural Science or similar.
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Behavioural Economics, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Data Science, Quantitative Research Methods or a related field.
• Experience in consulting, academic research, market research, or a related analytical role
• Hands-on exposure to experimental design, survey methods, or behavioural research
• Evidence of academic or professional excellence and leadership

Analytical Skills

• Strong foundationinbehaviouraleconomics, microeconomics, psychology, or marketing science.
• Experience designing or analysing surveys, experiments, or quasi-experimental studies.
• Ability to work with and analyse large or complex datasets using Python, R, Stata, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with conjoint analysis, choice modelling, or causal inference preferred.
• High standards for methodological rigour and defensible analysis.

Communication & Mindset

• Ability to clearly communicate complex ideas in writing and presentations.
• Ability to translate academic research into applied, real-world insights. Comfort working on ambiguous, high-stakes problems.
• Strong attention to detail and quality.
• Intellectual curiosity, coachability, and motivation to grow as a consultant.
• Clear interest in behavioural science, consumer decision-making, and its application in litigation and regulatory contexts.

In addition to annual salary, we provide an annual discretionary bonus, 401k contribution, and competitive benefits package. Actual Compensation within the range will depend upon the level the individual is hired into based on their skills, experience, and qualifications.

Annual Salary Range

£62,000—£127,000 GBP

At Keystone we believe diversity matters. At every level of our firm, we seek to advance and promote diversity, foster an inclusive culture, and ensure our colleagues have a deep sense of respect and belonging. If you are interested in growing your career with colleagues from varied backgrounds and cultures, consider Keystone.