Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Economics (Taxation, Welfare & Pensions)

The ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) is seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on a three-year, fixed-term contract for research in the area of Taxation, Welfare and Pensions (TWP).

This research area examines the design of the tax, welfare and pensions system, with a focus on the effect it has on redistribution and incentives to work. Recent work in this area has considered the themes of childcare affordability, carbon tax, indexation of the tax and welfare system, pension auto-enrolment, income adequacy in retirement, homecare support and gender inequality.  A key part of the TWP team’s work is the development and maintenance of the ESRI tax-benefit microsimulation model, SWITCH. The team also works on the Irish component of the European Commission’s microsimulation model, EUROMOD. Current research in the area can be viewed here.

The Institute

The ESRI, founded in 1960, is located in Dublin’s South Docklands area. Our mission is to produce high quality research, relevant to Ireland’s economic and social development, with the aim of contributing to knowledge and informing policymaking and public debate. We have over 100 staff including economists, sociologists and other social scientists, in addition to support and technical staff. 

The results of the Institute’s research, and the policy implications that flow from it, have been the subject of a huge range of publications by ESRI staff over the last six decades. All research projects undertaken by the ESRI have a significant public good element and results are published without restriction.

The Institute has excellent facilities and a supportive atmosphere, with a particular emphasis on team-based research. 

Social Research

The TWP team is part of the Social Research Division of the ESRI, which consists of a multi-disciplinary team of economists, sociologists, epidemiologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, health service researchers and statisticians, working in the areas of health and quality of life; behavioural science; education; taxation, welfare and pensions; and social inclusion and equality.   

Role Description

The appointee will be involved as a key team member in several stages of this research, including:

• Working on the maintenance and development of the ESRI’s and the European Commission’s tax-benefit models.
• Leading and contributing to co-authored policy reports and academic journal articles.
• Provision of training, support and modelling assistance to external model users in relevant government departments.
• Interacting with funding departments in terms of research objectives.
• The appointee will receive dedicated supervision and appropriate additional training, such as media training, research methods training, time management and presentation skills. Research outputs are published in a range of outlets including journal articles, the Institute’s own internally refereed publications, and book chapters. In addition, the appointee is encouraged to present at seminars and conferences, both nationally and internationally.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will have: 

• A PhD in Economics/Social Policy or similar (or close to completion);
• Strong quantitative skills including a proven ability to use up-to-date statistical and econometric techniques and Stata;
• An interest in taxation and welfare policy;
• An interest in microsimulation modelling;
• Research interest and knowledge in the area of labour economics, public economics and/or social policy;
• Excellent writing skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Proven ability to work successfully under tight deadlines;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

Computer programming skills, experience of microsimulation modelling and knowledge of Python would be an advantage. 

Location

ESRI, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2. Applicants should note that staff have the option of working remotely from their home in Ireland on a ‘blended’ basis with a minimum requirement of one day per week (or as business requires) based in the ESRI office.   This arrangement is running on a pilot basis. Full details will be provided at interview. 

Terms & Application Procedure

The role is full-time (35 hours net per week - standard working hours are 09.30-17.30, Monday – Friday; flexible working hours are supported). Appointments will be on a three-year, fixed-term contract basis and starting salary will be €46,226 which is the first point of the ESRI Administrative Officer (Higher) salary scale.  

To apply for this position please click on the 'Apply' button above. The closing date for applications is 22 March at 5pm. All applications will be acknowledged. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed. The selection process will consist of a preliminary interview and, for candidates successful at that stage, a final interview, presentation, and written assessment. The ESRI is currently conducting selection processes via videoconference (MS Teams or Zoom). 

The ESRI is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to accommodating the needs of people with disabilities to enable them to participate in the selection process. Please let us know if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for assessment/interview or that you wish us to take into account when considering your application.