Research Fellow, Stanford Law School

🔍 School of Law, Stanford, California, United States

New

📁: Academic

📅   : 2 hours ago Post Date

📅   : 107147 Requisition #

RESEARCH FELLOW, STANFORD LAW SCHOOL (Fixed term) *multi-job posting

*NOTE: This position has been deemed critical/has specific funding, has been approved by the Law School for posting, and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

Commitment:

Full-time, starting Summer 2026. Some applicants available to start earlier will also be considered. Fellowships last for one year, with the opportunity to renew for a second year based on performance and mutual agreement of the professor and fellow.

Description:

Assist Stanford Law School faculty, including economists Dr. John J. Donohue and Dr. Alison D. Morantz, in conducting policy-relevant empirical social science research. Designed for graduating seniors or recent college or master’s program graduates, the fellowship provides a unique opportunity for those considering graduate school, law school, and/or business school in the future.

Over the past 5 years, research fellows have matriculated in PhD programs at: Harvard (Economics), Berkeley, (Economics), Columbia (Economics), Harvard (Sociology), Harvard (Health Policy), MIT (Economics), Northwestern (Economics), UC San Diego (Economics), University of Chicago (Economics), Cambridge (Economics), University of Pennsylvania (Economics), University of Pennsylvania (Finance). In the past 5 years, fellows have also matriculated in law school at Stanford Law School, Yale Law School, and Cornell Law School.

Participation in this fellowship opportunity allows you to take and audit Stanford courses and attend on-campus lectures and seminars free of charge. In addition, incumbents in this fellowship will be eligible to take one course per quarter, not to exceed a maximum of 5 units (for which departments will pay a discounted fee), with approval from your faculty supervisor.

Job responsibilities will vary by position, but will involve all aspects of the research process including:

Participate and assist with planning an empirical project by reviewing prior law and economics studies identified by the respective faculty. Implement regression models using Stata or R.
Collecting, managing, and structuring quantitative datasets
Conceptualization of suitable empirical methodologies and models
Statistical analyses of complex datasets and interpretation of results
Participate in the development and administration of surveys using validated variables and questions provided by the faculty and post-doc.
Conduct targeted Westlaw and JSTOR search on recent scholarship about particular research as assigned.
Communication with government officials, industry stakeholders, and research collaborators
Assist with development, communication and design of research findings to internal and external audiences in the form of report writing and manuscript preparation
May formulate nationwide randomized controlled trials, and create novel datasets on research related to policy issues

Job qualifications:

Experience in a quantitative discipline, such as economics, political science, computer science, statistics, or applied math, typically gained through completion of an undergraduate degree in a related field.
Training in causal inference and/or machine learning methods
Effective oral and written communication skills
Outstanding academic credentials and intellectual creativity
Eagerness to take initiative and solve intricate problems
Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance.
Excellent time-management skills and ability to work effectively with minimal supervision
Exceptional research and analytical writing skills
Programming experience in R, Python, Stata, and/or other languages is strongly preferred
Prior research experience and coursework in the empirical social sciences is preferred, but not required

How to apply:

The deadline for applications is 7:00AM PST on Monday, October 21, 2025. All applications received before this date are guaranteed to be read while there is a spot open. After this date we will still be accepting applications, however preference will be given to first round applications. Applicants with OPT are eligible to apply for this position.

TWO STEP APPLICATION PROCESS: 1)Please apply online at law.stanford.edu/research/sls-fellowships/empirical-research-fellowship. Make sure to upload each of the following:

▪ Brief cover letter explaining your interest in the position and which graduate degree(s), if any, you hope to pursue

▪ Current resume

▪ Transcript (unofficial version acceptable)

▪ Short academic writing sample, preferably empirical or social science-related

▪ Contact information for no fewer than two academic references who can attest to your academic research skills and for any additional references who can speak to your character and professional skills

2) Submit your application and CV via the Stanford Careers website [107147]

If you have any additional comments or questions, please see the FAQs on the fellowship website above.

The expected pay range for this position is $31.40 to $38.89 per hour.
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic

protected by law.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability that requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job.

Stanford Law School seeks to hire the best talent and to promote a safe and secure environment for all members of the university community and its property. To that end, new staff hires must successfully pass a background check prior to starting work at Stanford University.

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