‍Position Overview 

MIT FutureTech is seeking a Research Assistant to work with Prof. Joseph Emmens on projects related to the economics of science and artificial intelligence. Joseph and MIT FutureTech are investigating how AI is reshaping scientific discovery to answer the question of whether AI will ultimately drive transformative economic growth.

Salary

$50,000 per year, plus benefits. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions**) 

• Clean, analyse and visualise data.
• Write or finalise replicable data files or scripts for publication.
• Develop, design, and maintain research datasets.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Conducts literature reviews. 
• Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Supervision Received 

• Reports to Project Director.
• Works under moderate oversight.     

Supervision Exercised

• Supervise undergraduate research assistants.

Qualifications & Skills 

 Education:

• Bachelor's degree in economics, computer science or a related field.
• Master’s degree in economics, computer science or a related field.
• The ideal candidate will have taken both CS and Economics courses at some point in their academic career.

Essential and demonstrable experience:

• Experience working with large unstructured data.
• Experience and understanding of machine learning techniques in data analysis.
• Experience and understanding of LLM coding, prompt design and batch processing.
• Experience and understanding of econometrics.
• Knowledge of the basics of economic modeling.
• Working as a research assistant.

 Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Python or R required.
• Knowledge of LaTeX preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of research techniques and methods in relevant scientific fields.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Work both independently and as a team member.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

About MIT FutureTech 

MIT FutureTech is an interdisciplinary group of  economists, computer scientists, and engineers who study the foundations and economic implications of progress in computing and Artificial Intelligence.  Economic and social change is underpinned by advances in computing: for instance, improvements in the miniaturization of integrated circuits, the discovery and refinement of algorithms, and the development and diffusion of better software systems and processes. We aim to identify and understand the trends in computing that create opportunities or risks and help leaders in computing, scientific funding bodies, and government to respond appropriately. 

Our research therefore helps to answer important questions including: Will AI progress accelerate or decline – and should it? What are the implications for economic growth and for the labor markets? What are the bottlenecks to growth from AI, and how can they be solved? What are the risks from AI, and how can we mitigate them? 

To support our research, we run seminars and conferences to better connect the field of computer scientists, economists, and innovation scholars to build a thriving global research community. 

To disseminate it, we advise governments, nonprofits and industry, including via National Academies panels on transformational technologies and scientific reliability, the Council on Competitiveness’ National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers, and the National Science Foundation’s National Network for Critical Technology Assessment. 

Our work has been funded by Open Philanthropy, the National Science Foundation, Microsoft, Accenture, IBM, the MIT-Air Force AI accelerator, and the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. 

Some of our recent outputs:  

• Scientific Work and The Science Task Taxonomy
• AI and Science: Early Insights
• The Rapid Growth of AI Foundation Model Usage in Science
• Crashing Waves vs. Rising Tides: Preliminary Findings on AI Automation from Thousands of Worker Evaluations of Labor Market Tasks
• The AI Risk Repository: A Comprehensive Meta-Review, Database, and Taxonomy of Risks From Artificial Intelligence
• Expertise Framework

Some recent articles about our research: 

• Digital Information World - New MIT research overturns prior view about how AI capabilities could overtake human workers
• The Atlantic - Three Ways to Think About AI and Jobs
• Rolling Stone - It’s Personality Theft’: How Creators Are Fighting Back Against AI Deepfakes

You will be working with Prof. Joseph Emmens, Assistant Professor of Economics at CUNEF University and an affiliate researcher with MIT FutureTech. His work combines economic theory, large-scale text analysis, and causal inference to understand how teams, firms, and institutions produce scientific and technological innovation. His recent research focuses on the economics of innovation, the organisation of science, and the impact of artificial intelligence on research, with the aim of informing science policy, R&D management, and innovation strategy. Before joining MIT FutureTech, Joseph completed his PhD in Economics at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Barcelona School of Economics in 2025.

How to apply

Please use this form to register interest in this role or to submit a general expression of interest.

Selected candidates will be first interviewed via Zoom. We are recruiting on a rolling basis and may close applications early if we find a suitable candidate, so please apply as soon as possible to maximize your chances.

** To comply with regulations by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the principal duties in position descriptions must be essential to the job. To identify essential functions, focus on the purpose and the result of the duties rather than the manner in which they are performed. The following definition applies: a job function is essential if removal of that function would fundamentally change the job.

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