Research Assistant in Quantitative Social Science: Machine Learning for Refugee Resettlement
Research Assistant in Quantitative Social Science: Machine Learning for Refugee Resettlement
20%-40%, Zurich, fixed-term
The Public Policy Group at ETH Zurich invites applications for a research assistant in quantitative social science for a project using machine learning to improve refugee resettlement.
Project background
The position is part of an innovative project using machine learning and matching algorithms to improve the resettlement process for refugees and asylum seekers. We are developing GeoMatch, a recommendation tool to assist governments in identifying communities where newly arriving refugees are most likely to thrive. This tool is currently being tested in the field in Switzerland and the United States, with an imminent launch in the Netherlands. The project is a collaborative effort between ETH Zurich and Stanford University.
Job description
Your task will be to support the project in a variety of ways. This includes cleaning and processing data from our partner agencies, training and fine-tuning machine learning models to predict refugee resettlement outcomes, and conducting simulations and backtests to assess model performance and estimate the tool's real-world impact. Your work will focus on the development and testing of the algorithm tool in the Netherlands, the latest country to adopt the tool to assist asylum seekers.
Profile
- Enrolled in a master’s program at a Swiss university / ETH with a strong focus on data science (data science, computer science, economics, social sciences, etc.)
- Excellent programming skills in R
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Familiarity with supervised machine learning (e.g. gbm, xgboost, etc.) is an advantage.
- Proficiency in data cleaning and management and experience working with complex datasets
- Fluency in English, oral and written
- Reliable, structured, and precise working style
Workplace
Workplace
We offer
- Hands-on experience on an empirical research project that aims to provide tangible social impact for refugees
- Diverse activities
- Training and assessing machine learning models
- Managing, cleaning, and processing complex, real-world datasets
- Evaluating the effectiveness of algorithmic matching strategies on refugee outcomes
- Conducting simulated backtests to estimate the performance of the GeoMatch tool in a new policy context
- Highly collaborative work environment: you will be working closely together with the project team at Stanford University
- Professional supervision by experienced researchers, supporting you in your career development as a data scientist / applied econometrician / quantitative social scientist
- Salary and pension benefits according to ETH regulation
The position is secured for 6 months starting October/November 2024.
We value diversity
Curious? So are we.
We look forward to receiving your online application, including a cover letter, CV, and study transcripts. Please note that only applications submitted through our online application portal are accepted.
For further information about the position please contact the lab manager, Selina Kurer Write an email (Subject: Research Assistant Refugee Algorithm 2024). For more information on the Public Policy Group and Immigration Policy Lab, please visit our websites at Public Policy Group and Immigration Policy Lab, as well as Immigration lab GeoMatch.
For recruitment services the GTC of ETH Zurich apply.
About ETH Zürich
Curious? So are we.
We look forward to receiving your online application, including a cover letter, CV, and study transcripts. Please note that only applications submitted through our online application portal are accepted.
For further information about the position please contact the lab manager, Selina Kurer Write an email (Subject: Research Assistant Refugee Algorithm 2024). For more information on the Public Policy Group and Immigration Policy Lab, please visit our websites at Public Policy Group and Immigration Policy Lab, as well as Immigration lab GeoMatch.
For recruitment services the GTC of ETH Zurich apply.
