Research Assistant – Taxation, Welfare and Pensions Research Programme

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 Role

Applications are invited for the position of Research Assistant in Economics, working in the Taxation, Welfare and Pensions research programme. This is within the Social Research Division at the ESRI, which consists of a multi-disciplinary team of sociologists, economists, epidemiologists, psychologists, health service researchers and statisticians. The successful candidate will work on research topics in this area and will contribute to developing and using the ESRI tax-benefit microsimulation model, SWITCH. The model is used to explore the likely impact of tax and welfare policy options on the distribution of income and on financial incentives to work. The team also works on the Irish component of the European microsimulation model, EUROMOD.

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

• Work on the maintenance and development of the ESRI’s and the European Commission’s tax-benefit models.
• 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.
• Co-presenting research at conferences.

The Institute has excellent facilities and a supportive atmosphere, with a particular emphasis on team-based research.  All research has a strong empirical focus, and hence familiarity with quantitative research techniques is essential.  All projects/programmes are undertaken with a view to publication and all contributions are recognised in the attribution of authorship to research outputs such as reports and journal articles.  Most research has a strong policy focus, allowing the Research Assistant the opportunity to interact with policymakers. The RA will receive dedicated supervision and appropriate additional training and will be encouraged to present at seminars and conferences. 

Research Assistants at the ESRI

Since the mid-1960s over 150 of the most talented graduates in economics and sociology in Ireland have participated in the ESRI’s Research Assistant programme. Many of these alumni have gone on to undertake PhDs at some of the world’s top universities, and have subsequently taken up academic posts, while others have risen to senior positions in major Irish and international institutions in the business, financial and public sectors. 

The Research Assistantship programme is of three years’ duration, and it is aimed at candidates who have recently completed a relevant Master’s programme. Participants will receive dedicated supervision and appropriate additional training. The responsibilities of the Research Assistant include literature searches and reviews; preparing summaries of reports; collecting, collating and analysing data; model maintenance and development; writing up research results, and preparation and delivery of both internal and external presentations. On completion of the programme, Research Assistants will have acquired excellent skills which may be applied to PhD research or to research positions in the public and private sectors. 

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• An MA or MSc in Economics (or completion in 2025);
• Strong quantitative skills, including proven ability to use statistical software (such as Stata) and econometric techniques;
• An interest in taxation and welfare policy.
• An interest in microsimulation modelling.
• Excellent writing skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• The ability to deliver high quality work to tight deadlines;
• The ability to work successfully as part of a team and independently;
• Previous experience of conducting applied research will be an advantage.

Computer programming skills and knowledge of Python/R would be an advantage.

The ESRI’s Research Assistantship programme is of three years’ duration. Participants will receive dedicated supervision and appropriate additional training, such as media training, research methods training, time management and presentation skills. On completion of the programme, Research Assistants will have acquired excellent skills which may be applied to PhD research or to research positions in the public and private sectors. 

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 standard working week is 35 hours, i.e., 09.30-17.30, Monday – Friday; (flexible working hours are supported). 

Appointments will be on a three-year, fixed-term contract basis. The starting salary will be €39,869 which is the first point of the ESRI Administrative Officer (Standard) salary scale. 

Closing date for applications is 15 July 2025 at 5pm. All applications will be acknowledged. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed. 

The ESRI is currently conducting selection processes via videoconference (MS Teams or Zoom). 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are fundamental values in our Strategic Plan. We recognise that a diverse workforce brings a range of perspectives and experiences that foster innovation and enriches our research. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, marital status, family status, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.  As such we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups. 

If you have a disability, please let us know if you have any requirements should you be invited for assessment /interview or that you wish us to account for when considering your application.