The Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has announced a recruitment opportunity for a Research Assistant in Health and Education Economics. The position is part of Dr David Frayman’s applied microeconomics research programme, which focuses on education, health, and administrative data analysis.
The role is designed as a long-term research engagement running until at least June 2027, offering postgraduate-level candidates an opportunity to contribute to high-impact academic research in applied economics.
Overview of the Research Assistant Role
The Research Assistant position supports ongoing projects within the CEP that explore key questions in health, education, and child development economics. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr David Frayman and contribute to empirical research using large-scale datasets.
Key research themes include:
- The effects of diagnosing childhood mental disorders on later outcomes
- The impact of targeted high-needs education spending
- The influence of family environments on child development
- The role of school peer effects on adolescent wellbeing and performance
The position offers exposure to applied academic research methods and secure data environments used in high-level economic research.
Employment Terms and Work Structure
The appointment is structured with flexible working arrangements depending on candidate availability. Weekly hours may range up to full-time equivalent, and the position is open to current postgraduate students.
Key employment details include:
- Hourly remuneration starting at £23.72, inclusive of holiday pay
- Higher rates may be considered for candidates with advanced experience
- Start date is flexible but must be no later than September 2026
- Commitment required through at least June 2027
- Work conducted within secure data environments where AI coding tools are not permitted
The role is explicitly designed for candidates already based in the United Kingdom with valid work authorisation, as visa sponsorship is not available.
Essential Requirements for Applicants
Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong technical and academic competencies, particularly in quantitative research methods.
Essential criteria include:
- Strong undergraduate-level quantitative background with high academic achievement
- Excellent knowledge of R programming
- Experience handling large datasets
- Ability to work independently and with high attention to detail
- Willingness to work in restricted data environments without AI-assisted coding tools
- Interest in health, education, wellbeing, and childhood development research areas
These requirements reflect the data-intensive and policy-relevant nature of CEP’s research agenda.
Desirable Skills and Experience
While not mandatory, additional experience in related fields is considered advantageous.
Desirable qualifications include:
- Master’s level study in economics or a related quantitative discipline
- Relevant work experience in quantitative research environments
- Experience working with administrative data sources
- Familiarity with the UK education or health systems
Applicants with outstanding undergraduate performance and strong technical skills may also be considered.
Application Process and Required Documents
Interested candidates must apply directly via email to the designated contact by 28 June. Applications must include a complete set of supporting documents and a written statement of suitability.
Required application materials:
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Official academic transcripts, including cohort ranking where available
- A written paragraph outlining suitability for the role, including prior experience with R programming and data analysis
Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.
Additional Opportunities at CEP
Beyond this specific role, CEP regularly recruits part-time research assistants for various projects throughout the academic year. These opportunities are typically aimed at graduate students based in the UK with strong quantitative research backgrounds.
Eligibility for these roles generally includes:
- Minimum Master’s level training in economics or a related discipline
- Experience with applied microeconometric research
- Proficiency in statistical software such as STATA or R
- Ability to work with large microdata sets
CEP also maintains a mailing list for prospective applicants interested in future research assistant opportunities during the 2025/26 academic year.
About the Centre for Economic Performance
The Centre for Economic Performance is a globally recognised research institute within LSE, focusing on policy-relevant studies of economic performance across individuals, institutions, and broader economic systems. The centre holds ESRC Research Institute status and has built a reputation for producing influential empirical research that informs public policy.
The institution continues to play a leading role in advancing evidence-based research in economics, with a strong emphasis on labour markets, education systems, health outcomes, and inequality.
Contact and Institutional Information
The Centre for Economic Performance is based at:
London School of Economics and Political Science
Houghton Street, London
WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom
CEP remains part of LSE’s broader research ecosystem and contributes to its mission of advancing social science research for public benefit.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.