The Santa Fe Institute seeks a Research Assistant to contribute to the ongoing collaborative "ENDOW" project (Economic Networks and the Dynamics of Wealth inequality), funded by the US National Science Foundation and with additional support from the Santa Fe Institute’s Emergent Political Economies program. This is a cross-cultural comparative project, using data gathered from over fifty communities around the world, aimed at understanding the dynamics of social and economic inequality.
The Research Assistant will compile geolocated data (covering climatic, environmental, social, and infrastructural variables at fine spatial and temporal resolutions) to complement the data being gathered by ENDOW ethnographers. This may include details on rainfall, soil quality, nighttime lights, roads, etc. (e.g., data coming from NASA's Earth Science Data Systems and Earth Observations, Landsat and Planet Scope satellite images, WorldClim2, WoSIS, or World Settlement Footprint), as well as measures of socioeconomic and health status (e.g., Demographic and Health Survey data) from the local region. ENDOW is a long-term project, and the aim is not to compile a retrospective, static database derived from these sources, but instead to create customizable code that can regularly query the sources to iteratively update the database of relevant data points for particular spatial and temporal coordinates.
This role requires someone with knowledge of and experience working with large, open geospatial datasets who can help the ENDOW team identify potentially useful datasets. This person should also have strong computer programming skills (preferably in R, as this is the main language used by the ENDOW team) and familiarity with git and version control. They would ideally have experience with and interest in working with large cross-cultural datasets.
This position is based in-person at the Santa Fe Institute in Santa Fe, NM for a period of up to 12 weeks beginning in June 2023, working under the supervision of Eleanor Power. The Research Assistant is encouraged to take part in the vibrant intellectual community at the Santa Fe Institute during their visit, attend talks, and connect with other researchers.
Applicants should submit a CV, a brief (one-page) cover letter expressing interest in and suitability for the post, and contact details for two references. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023.
The Santa Fe Institute is an equal opportunity employer. Women and members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply, as are individuals who have taken unconventional paths in their careers.
SFI is a vaccinated community; to be employed by SFI and on-site you must provide proof of primary vaccination against COVID-19.