Careers

Founded in 2017, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center’s mission is to advance policy-oriented research for financial stability, human well-being and environmental sustainability.

To fulfill our mission, we conduct rigorous policy research; provide a convening place for scholars and stakeholders; engage in policy dialogue with policymakers, civil society and media; and offer experiential learning for Boston University students. The GDP Center strives to not only be a think tank, but also a do tank. Come work with us.

Data Analyst, Team Lead for Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.), Global China Initiative

The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center’s Global China Initiative (GCI) is seeking a Data Analyst with familiarity of or a background in China’s role in international development to lead the Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.) group. We are looking for someone with demonstrated team management experience, data analysis skills, policy research background on China’s overseas economic activities, and strong collaboration and communication skills.

The GCI produces policy-oriented research on China’s overseas investments and engagement with international institutions, focusing on financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability.

GCI maintains four public databases tracking hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investment across energy and infrastructure development: China’s Overseas Development Finance (CODF), Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA), Chinese Global Energy Finance (CGEF), and China’s Global Power (CGP). The databases are open-access resources designed to bring transparency to China’s overseas development finance, enabling independent research, informed policymaking, and public accountability.

This position is based in Boston, MA. Remote work is not possible for this position. Applicants must possess a current valid visa to work in the U.S. Employer-sponsored visa sponsorship is not possible for this position.

Responsibilities:

Team Management

Supervise a team of data analysts/research assistants to ensure consistent application of data collection methodologies, processes, standards, and timelines across all projects.
Oversee quality assurance for all databases and data products, conducting regular reviews to maintain rigorous data standards and accuracy.
Develop, implement, and maintain tools, workflows, and best practices for data management, including metadata standards, version control, and documentation.
Manage relationships with external vendors, contractors, and partner organizations for the development and maintenance of data collection tools and public-facing data interactives.
Administer access to internally produced and licensed data products, ensuring appropriate permissions, security, and compliance with licensing terms.
Establish, update, and enforce data governance policies covering public and internal data products (e.g., privacy, licensing, retention, and provenance).
Lead recruitment, onboarding, and professional development for research assistants and data analysts; design and maintain a training program to ensure team capacity and methodological consistency.

Policy Research

Design and lead empirical analyses of Chinese overseas lending and development finance, foreign direct investment, and energy finance at global and regional levels.
Produce high-quality written outputs—policy briefs, reports, and op-eds—that are evidence-based, clearly written, and targeted to diverse audiences (policymakers, researchers, media).
Direct and mentor research teams through the full lifecycle of writing projects, ensuring methodological rigor, clarity of argument, and timely delivery.
Generate research questions and policy-relevant project ideas focused on China’s overseas economic activity.

Other

Coordinate with communications teams to promote research findings to maximize impact.
Represent the team at conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings; present findings and cultivate partnerships.
Monitor advances in data science, geolocation techniques, and relevant datasets to continuously improve the team’s methods and tools.

Qualifications

Required: Master’s degree in International Relations, International Development, Public Policy, Data Science, Statistics, or related fields.
3 to 5 years of experience as a data analyst or similar role, with at least one year of supervisory experience.
Strong understanding of global financial institutions and China’s role, including overseas lending, foreign direct investment, international trade, and the Belt and Road initiative.
Demonstrated proficiency with Excel/Google Sheets for data manipulation and statistical methods. Rich experience with Python/R and other advanced programming software.
Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and/or other foreign languages such as Indonesian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Farsi and Burmese preferred but not required.
Strong leadership and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
Passion for data-driven policy research and a desire to make a positive impact.

Salary Grade: Grade 48
Expected Hiring Range Minimum: $71,925
Expected Hiring Range Maximum: $93,975

Note: The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training and internal pay comparison. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Apply here.

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS, Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.), Global China Initiative

The GDP Center is seeking highly motivated Research Assistants to support the Global China Initiative’s Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.) team. This is a paid on-campus position open to BU students only.

Background on GCI and D.A.T.A.:

The Global China Initiative (GCI) at the GDP Center advances policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions in order to enable financial stability, human well-being and environmental sustainability.

GCI manages a suite of four interactive public databases that collectively track hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investment to a variety of sectors, including energy and other infrastructure development. Databases include the China’s Overseas Development Finance (CODF) Database, the Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA) Database, the Chinese Global Energy Finance (CGEF) Database and the China’s Global Power (CGP) Database. These databases aim to provide transparent information to aid research, education, policymaking, journalism and accountability with regards to China’s overseas development finance and projects around the world.

Required Skills:

Pursuing a major or concentration in data science, international development, computer science, economics, international relations, finance, or a related field.
Knowledge and/or interest in learning about China and/or Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia or Southeast Asia regions.
Knowledge of Excel, Microsoft and Google Suite.
Strong collaboration and communication skills.

Preferred Skills:

Ability to work in Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Farsi and/or Burmese.
Working knowledge of public source research or a willingness to learn.
Proficiency in conducting Boolean searches on Google.
Comfortable with programming languages like Python.

The ability to work 20 hours per week until the end of the semester is required. Undergraduate students are preferred.

Interested candidates should fill out this application form with their CV.

DATA SCIENCE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.), Global China Initiative

The GDP Center is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant with a data science background and interest in international development to support the Global China Initiative’s Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.) team. This is a paid on-campus position open to BU students only.

Background on GCI and D.A.T.A.:

Required Skills:

Must be a current Boston University student.
Pursuing a degree or concentration in data science, computer science, economics, finance, statistics, or a closely related field.
Proficient in Python and confident using spreadsheet tools (Excel and Google Sheets) for data cleaning, analysis, and visualization.
Prior exposure to APIs and working with web data (e.g., HTML scraping, JSON parsing).
Experience with version control (Git), SQL, and data visualization libraries (e.g., matplotlib, seaborn, etc.).

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, or other AI tools and their application to data workflows.
Knowledge of data cleaning/manipulation libraries (pandas, NumPy) and basic machine learning workflows (scikit-learn).
Experience building or working with automated data pipelines and ETL processes.
Strong attention to detail, good documentation practices, and ability to work in a team-oriented research environment.

The ability to work 20 hours per week until the end of the semester is required.

Interested candidates should fill out this application form with their CV.

ACADEMIC RESEARCHER, Global Economic Governance Initiative

The Boston University Global Development Policy Center seeks an Academic Researcher with a strong background in global development policy for our Global Economic Governance Initiative (GEGI).

GEGI advances policy-oriented research to align global economic governance with development and climate ambitions and deliver green and inclusive prosperity. Within GEGI, research is conducted across three thematic programs: climate and development finance, financial stability, and trade and investment rules. GEGI also focuses on emerging and cross-cutting challenges such as just transitions, the sovereign debt crisis and climate change.

GEGI is seeking an Academic Researcher with a background in development economics or studies, international economics, environment/climate economics, and international political economy related to:

1. Development finance and development banks;

2. The political economy of development finance institutions; and

3. The economic and social dimensions of the green transition and climate resilience.

The Academic Researcher is expected to lead and oversee ongoing research efforts, guide, plan and execute future research projects and pursue independent research in one or more of the priority areas of GEGI. In addition to leading these research efforts, the Academic Researcher will routinely engage with policymakers and civil society organizations to advance GEGI’s policy-oriented research findings.

This is an in-person position at the GDP Center’s Boston office.

Qualifications:

Advanced degree in public policy, engineering, economics, political science, political economy or related disciplines with a strong background in global development or international organizations. PhD preferred.
The candidate must have strong methodological skills. Quantitative skills and expertise in Excel, R, Stata, or Python would be an asset. Research experience involving mixed methods is a plus.
Well-versed with ongoing policy discussions and debates on global economic governance and preferably a growing track record of thought leadership and policy engagement.
Track record of engaging with collaborators based in the global south and experience with research management.
A strong research interest and proven track record in the GEGI focus areas, including a firm grasp of policy discussions and debates.

Boston University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and life insurance; retirement savings plans with matching contributions; generous paid time off and holidays; tuition remission for employees and eligible family members; wellness programs; transportation and commuting benefits; access to backup childcare and an on-site children’s center; and statutory protections such as Workers’ Compensation and Social Security contributions.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and CV to gegi@bu.edu with the subject line <<First Name Last Name – GEGI Academic Researcher>>

ACADEMIC RESEARCHER/SENIOR ACADEMIC RESEARCHER, Energy and Climate, Global China Initiative

The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center seeks an Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher to lead our Energy and Climate work stream at the Global China Initiative (GCI). GCI advances policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions to enable financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. Within GCI, research is conducted across four programs: Energy and Climate, Forestry, Agriculture and Indigenous Rights (FAIR), China and the International Financial Architecture (CHIFA), and Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.).

Specifically, the mission of the energy and climate team is to produce policy oriented, evidence based and theoretical driven research to decarbonize Chinese overseas economic activity; accelerate inclusive low-carbon and facilitate green structural transformation in developing countries. An ideal candidate must have a strong background in energy and climate research with regards to Chinese overseas engagement, particularly in the following areas:

China’s role in just energy transition in developing countries;
Composition and impacts of China’s overseas energy projects;
Political and economic factors determining energy choices by China and countries that borrow or receive financing from China.

The primary responsibilities of the Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher include:

Conducting peer reviewed rigorous research on topics related to: China’s global energy finance and implications for climate change; the role of development finance in catalyzing energy transition in developing countries; policy proposals for greening China’s overseas economic engagement; and other relevant areas as determined by GCI.
Developing and managing an energy and climate research portfolio in collaboration with by BU faculty members, non-resident scholars, and pre/post docs. This requires a strong ability to identify innovative and strategic questions for policy design and the ability to manage researchers who lead/operationalize the projects.
Engaging with policy makers in China and elsewhere abroad on the policy implications of GCI’s research, as well as engaging in strategic communications through traditional and digital media platforms in English and Chinese.
Leading the planning and execution of research across project life cycle, including conceptualization, data collection and analysis, drafting, revision, journal submission, policy engagement and so on, for both researcher’s own project as well as others under the energy and climate team.
Representing GCI at policy events and conferences to advance our research findings.

This is an in-person position at Boston University.

Qualifications:

Advanced degree in public policy, engineering, economics, political science, or related fields; PhD required for the Senior Academic Researcher position.
Track record of high-impact publications on topics related to energy and climate change.
Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills in economics, energy, and finance in general, and knowledge of Chinese economy, climate policy, and overseas engagement.
Interest in global development policy and China’s role in energy transition in developing countries.
Strong writing skills, including technical writing as well as the ability to summarize technical research with a wider audience of media and policymakers.
Demonstrated project and program management experience.
Mandarin language skills required.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and CV to the Global China Initiative Team (gci@bu.edu) with the subject line <<First Name Last Name – GCI E&C Researcher>>

ACADEMIC RESEARCHER/SENIOR ACADEMIC RESEARCHER, China and the International Financial Architecture, Global China Initiative

The Boston University Global Development Policy Center seeks an Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher with a strong background in China and international financial institutions to lead our China and the International Financial Architecture work stream at the Global China Initiative.

The Global China Initiative (GCI) was founded to advance policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions in order to enable financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. Within GCI, research is conducted across four programs: Energy and Climate, Forestry, Agriculture and Indigenous Rights in the Belt and Road Initiative (FAIR-BRI), China and the International Financial Architecture, and Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.). 

GCI is seeking an Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher with a background in China and the International Financial Architecture to lead policy oriented research on:

China and the Global Financial Safety Net;
China and Global Development Finance;
China and the sovereign debt restructuring architecture.

The primary responsibilities of the Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher for China and the International Financial Architecture group will be to conduct rigorous and policy-oriented research on topics related to China’s engagement both inside the legacy Bretton Woods institutions and outside through a network of newer bilateral and multilateral institutions that China has joined or co-founded in this century. The Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher will also be the team leader for GCI’s China and the international financial architecture group, synthesizing and managing research across the group and representing the group at internal and external meetings.

In addition to competitive compensation, the Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher will receive funding for data collection, fieldwork, travel to conferences, as well as potentially be eligible for reimbursement for relocation expenses. This is an in-person position at GDP Center’s offices at Boston University.

Qualifications:

Advanced degree in international economics, international political economy, economics, political science, or related fields; PhD preferred.
Working proficiency in Chinese.
Track record of high-impact publications on topics related to China and the international financial architecture.
Interest in global development policy and China’s role in the international financial architecture.
Strong writing skills, including technical writing as well as the ability to summarize technical research with a wider audience of media and policymakers.
Demonstrated project and program management experience.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and CV to the Global China Initiative Team (gci@bu.edu) with the subject line <<First Name Last Name – GCI CHIFA Researcher>>

Page last updated: November 04, 2025.