Research Economist I

Job Title

Research Economist I

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Texas Real Estate Research Center

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who We Are

The Texas Real Estate Research Center was founded in 1971 by an act of the Texas Legislature. The Center’s enabling legislation defines a broad mandate to “conduct studies in all areas related directly or indirectly to real estate and/or urban or rural economics.” In addition to research programs in residential, commercial, and rural land economics, the Center maintains administrative, data, and communications teams to support its research agenda. Please learn more at www.trerc.tamu.edu

What We Want

As a Research Economist, you will be at the forefront of conducting economic analysis related to real estate for the State of Texas, producing insightful reports, and sharing your findings through engaging articles and presentations. Under the guidance of the research director, you will delve into the Texas economy and real estate markets, developing expertise in finance and economics. Your role will involve designing and conducting research projects, evaluating and developing economic models, and creating standardized reports on economic trends. You will stay updated on the latest research methodologies and maintain the highest integrity in data collection and analysis. Your findings will be disseminated through various channels, including written articles, oral presentations, and media interviews, ensuring they reach a wide array of audiences. Additionally, you will collaborate with other researchers, participate in staff meetings, assist with seminar planning, and develop relationships with key institutions in the real estate industry to enhance the Center’s public exposure and foster collaborative efforts. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the field of real estate economics.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire’s experience.

A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.

Job Description Summary: The Research Economist I, under direction, conducts research on the economy and real estate markets for Texas, produces reports based on the findings, and disseminates those findings through articles and presentations. The researcher will also participate in staff meetings and Center events, assist with special projects, and collaborate with others as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience: 

• PhD in economics, real estate, or related field.

• Five years teaching, research or equivalent experience at the university level.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in advanced research methods (e.g., econometrics, time-series/forecasting analysis) and analysis software (e.g. R, Python, SAS.)

• Familiarity with residential real estate, real estate development regulations, or property taxation.

• Six or more years of applied economic research with extensive experience presenting findings to policy makers and industry practitioners.

• Proficiency in applying tools such as R or Python to build end‑to‑end data workflows, including API-based ingestion, modeling, and generating recurring graphical and tabular outputs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Demonstrated proficiency in applying advanced economic methods to derive practical research results.

• Proven ability to effectively communicate complex results to a variety of audiences in industry, government, and the academy in writing and oral presentations.

• Experience with analytical software such as R, Python, or others.

• Ability to travel for presentations and events.

• History of effective collaborative research work and the ability to be an individual performer without day-to-day supervision.

• Ability to manage multiple, concurrent research projects.

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Responsibilities

• Research and Analysis - Proposes research projects per the Center’s research agenda process, addressing the data and methodology requirements for each project. Completes approved research projects under guidance of the research director, and where appropriate, in collaboration with other Center staff. Applies sophisticated research design, economic, econometric, and statistical methods to solve research problems. Monitors and assesses economic, financial, and real estate trends and their impact on Texas markets. Develops subject matter expertise in one or more real estate asset classes or crosscutting issues. Implements high level of integrity in data collection and maintenance. Maintains objectivity and neutrality in all aspects of research.

• Research Communication and Reporting - Distills and translates research findings into their practical, and actionable implications for the Center’s industry, practitioner, and policy audiences. Drafts written research findings for a variety of channels including blog posts, qualitative articles, and quantitative technical reports or papers. Prepares and delivers presentations to Center stakeholder audiences. Responds to assigned media and other external information requests.

• Program Planning and Coordination - Assists research director to identify and define research projects and research resources (data, software, etc.) Collaborates with other researchers on projects as needed. Participates in staff meetings and events.

Why Texas A&M University?  

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 

• Health , dental , vision , life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays 

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave  and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas 

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning  training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more 

• Employee Tuition Assistance and Educational Release time   for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.