We improve lives

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About this position

To achieve sustainable and equitable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Research Department (RES) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) generates cutting-edge research to inform the policy agenda of the Bank and its member countries. RES maximizes the impact of its research by producing high-quality economic analysis that serves as inputs for Bank departments, governments, academia, and public opinion in the region.

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant (Pre-Doctoral Fellow) to support a Research Economist in the Research Department on a research agenda focused on international trade, multinational firms, and firm-level heterogeneity. The position will contribute to empirical projects examining how multinational firms’ sourcing, production, and location decisions influence trade flows, market structure, and firm performance, with particular emphasis on global value chains, market power, and bilateral trade dynamics.

A core component of the role involves constructing and analyzing firm-level and transaction-level datasets using sources such as customs records, credit registries, and international databases including ORBIS, BACEN, and COMTRADE. The Research Assistant will support the integration of granular datasets—such as firm-bank credit links, sector-specific shocks, and trade or investment flows—while managing complex classification systems (e.g., HS, NAICS, ISIC). Responsibilities include tracking policy shocks (e.g., tax amnesties, capital controls, tariff changes), building exposure measures, and analyzing firm-level responses related to credit usage, labor outcomes, and cross-border activity.

Proficiency in processing large administrative datasets, harmonizing variables across diverse sources, and managing dynamic panel data is essential. Familiarity with economic structures—such as importer-exporter roles, banking exposure indicators, or firm-level balance sheets—is a strong asset.

The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic about contributing to cutting-edge research on the intersection of trade policy and firm behavior in the global economy

Key Responsibilities:
•    Clean, merge, and manage large-scale datasets related to bilateral trade and firm-level outcomes.
•    Construct and maintain concordances across classification systems (e.g., HS, NAICS, ISIC) to ensure consistency and comparability in data analysis.
•    Support the development and implementation of empirical strategies to evaluate the effects of trade shocks, such as the U.S. – China trade war on trade flows and firm behavior.
•    Conduct literature reviews and support the drafting of academic papers and policy briefs.
•    Work closely with Research Economists and other team members to produce high-quality, policy-relevant research aligned with the IDB’s mission.

The position offers an outstanding opportunity for candidates planning to pursue a Ph.D. in economics. Former Research Assistants in RES have successfully matriculated into top doctoral programs, including Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Columbia, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, among others.

What you’ll do

•    Support the researchers in drafting academic papers, reports, and presentations.
•    Identify, compile, and maintain relevant databases for research use.
•    Conduct econometric and statistical analyses to support empirical research.
•    Prepare comprehensive literature reviews on relevant topics.
•    Contribute to academic discussions and the interpretation of research findings.
•    Assist with project management tasks to ensure timely and effective execution of research activities.

What you'll need

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance or development. Master’s degree in international economics focusing on international trade is a plus
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of applied research experience at a recognized university, research center, or government agency. Strong quantitative skills are essential. Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing doctoral studies in a related field.
• Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required.
• Strong analytical skills, demonstrated through academic performance and personal achievements. 
• Knowledge of international economic models and frameworks.
• Experience in applied micro econometrics, causal inference, and econometric analysis particularly in the context of trade and international economics.
• Proficiency in managing and compiling large datasets, including but not limited to COMTRADE, U.S., Census tariff data, and related sources.
• Programing experience with Stata, Matlab, Python, R; advanced programming in Stata and working knowledge of at least one additional language is preferred.
• Familiarity with creating documents using LaTex (e.g Overleaf), including text, equations, tables, and figures.  
• Strong motivation for research, the ability to work independently, and a collaborative mindset for contributing to research teams.
• Demonstrated experience in several of the following areas: 
  •    Research analysis
  •    Data collection and cleaning
  •    Data visualization using STATA

Requirements

•    Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents.

•    Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.
 

Type of contract and duration

•    International consultant Full-Time, 18 months (up to 36 months).    

What we offer

The IDB group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee's life. These benefits include:
 

• A competitive compensation package
• Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender- neutral parental leave
• Health Insurance: the IDB Group provides a monthly allowance for the purchase of health insurance
• Savings plan: ​​​​​​​The IDB Group cares about your future, depending on the length of the contract, you will receive a monthly savings plan allowance.
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules
• Development support: We offer learning opportunities to boost your professional profile such as seminars, 1:1 professional counseling, and much more.
• Health and wellbeing:  Access to our Health Services Center which provides preventive care and health education for all employees.
• Other perks: Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, and others.

Our culture

At the IDB, we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work while finding their purpose. Our people consistently strive for excellence, and we recognize and celebrate the impact of their contributions.

In our efforts to drive innovation, we intentionally include all voices, cultivate a sense of belonging and champion fairness. We welcome individuals from underrepresented groups to join us and share their unique perspectives.

We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job interview process. If you require an accommodation to complete this application, please email us at accommodations@iadb.org.