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Research Professional

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $59,000–$62,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time your data did not support the hypothesis. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they follow the data or look for a way around it.

What have you contributed to a paper, and what exactly was your part of it?

What they are checking: An honest account of authorship, which is easy to inflate and easy to check.

Tell me about training someone junior in the lab.

What they are checking: The role includes mentoring. This checks whether they can teach as well as do.

How do you stay current with the literature in your area?

What they are checking: Whether reading is a habit, since this role is expected to be a scientific resource.

Tell me about working with a principal investigator whose approach differed from yours.

What they are checking: Whether they can disagree with a supervisor about science productively.

What technique would you most like to learn here?

What they are checking: Whether they have looked at what the lab does, and whether they want to grow.

What would you do

How do you manage several experiments running at once with different timelines?

What they are checking: Practical planning, which is most of what makes bench work productive.

What would you do if you realized a reagent had been mislabeled for weeks?

What they are checking: Whether they would raise something costly and embarrassing rather than quietly fix it.

About the work

Walk me through an experiment you designed yourself, from the question to the result.

What they are checking: Whether they design work independently, which is what separates this from a technician role.

Tell me about a method you had to optimize before it would work. What was going wrong?

What they are checking: Real troubleshooting, described in enough detail to show they did it.

How do you decide when a result is real and when it is an artifact?

What they are checking: Scientific judgment, and whether they are honest with themselves about their own data.

How do you keep a record of your work so someone else could repeat it?

What they are checking: Notebook discipline, which decides whether the lab's work survives them leaving.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at University of Chicago from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department Booth Fama-Miller: Research About the Department The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni. -strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world-renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/. Job Summary As a Research Professional, work closely with Booth faculty member(s) and Fama-Miller Center for Research in Finance (FMC) Directors to manage and carry out research projects and ensure that the FMC goals and objectives are met. The FMC is research oriented, and one of the primary responsibilities of this role will be managing and facilitating research project(s) in various stages from inception through completion. Additionally, provide general assistance to faculty and post-doctoral scholars; attend various events, including selected research seminars; build and manage data sets, conduct field research, conduct statistical analysis, and edit research documentation. Ideal candidates are considering applications to PhD programs in economics, finance or related disciplines. This position is expected to last two years. Responsibilities • Supports ongoing research projects, faculty and post-doctoral fellows, by conducting various searches, compiling and manipulating data. • Collects, manages and structures quantitative datasets. • Conducts complex statistical analysis, writes statistical software programs, and organizes the presentation of results. • Creates charts, tables and descriptive text for presentations. • Obtains and organizes information for research from other academic institutions and practitioners. • Maintains effective communication with all members of the faculty and outside institutions. • Proofreads and edits citations of funded research reports, working papers, and publications. • 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. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Education: • Bachelor's degree by start date, June 2027. • Coursework in statistics or econometrics. • Strong GPA. Experience: • At least one year of research experience. • Relevant research experience. • Background in economics or related field. Technical Skills or Knowledge: • Demonstrated proficiency in Stata, Matlab, Python, R, or related software. • Strong computer skills, including programming. • Strong quantitative background. • Knowledge of research techniques or methods. Preferred Competencies • Strong interest in attending graduate school. • Analytical and problem-solving skills. • Excellent and professional verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills and attention to detail. • Strong problem-solving skills to handle multiple projects simultaneously. • Work well independently and creatively, as well as with others, and meet deadlines under pressure. • Excellent time-management skills and work effectively with minimal supervision. • Seek out, coordinate, and appropriately disseminate information. • Eagerness to take initiative and solve intricate problems. • Train others. • Proven understanding of the program and its goals. Working Conditions • This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office. Application Documents • Resume/CV (required) • Cover Letter (required) • Unofficial transcripts (required) The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Research Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ Pay Range $59,000.00 - $62,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes 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 . Posting Statement 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 (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.

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