Senior Research Scientist

Department: Kellogg Marketing

The Ad-Tech Research Lab (AdTLab) at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, seeks one or more Senior Research Scientists to support faculty harnessing massive data sets, applying cutting-edge methodologies, and addressing critical issues in digital advertising. AdTLab faculty have backgrounds in diverse areas such as economics, marketing, and psychology and routinely work and publish together in top academic journals. Current faculty research spans issues of measurement and attribution, personalization and privacy, and best-in-class practices in effective advertising. Collaborative efforts also extend beyond Kellogg, with faculty working extensively with large-scale proprietary data from Fortune 500 companies.

Senior Research Scientists will be supervised by the faculty director (Florian Zettelmeyer, Professor of Marketing) and one or more faculty fellows of AdTLab. The Senior Research Scientist will contribute to faculty research projects through tasks including the organization, curation, and analysis of large-scale data; the development and implementation of experiments; the execution of advanced empirical analyses, including machine learning and/or AI; the management and coordination of research projects.

Life as a Senior Research Scientist

The primary responsibility of a Senior Research Scientist is to support faculty research projects. Senior Research Scientists are encouraged to engage substantively in research design, analysis, and interpretation. Senior Research Scientists will also attend AdTLab meetings, be encouraged to engage in intellectual conversation, and be welcomed to attend closed-door gatherings in which thought leaders collectively address specific challenges and opportunities facing the industry. The position provides exposure to frontier research questions, proprietary data, and close mentorship from faculty engaged in high-impact scholarship. Senior Research Scientists are expected to spend up to 20% of their time coordinating and managing research projects. At the discretion of faculty, Senior Research Scientists may be invited to become co-authors on academic and industry publications. Although Senior Research Scientists' appointment rests within AdTLab, they are encouraged to participate in the broader department, school, and university community. Senior Research Scientists will have an assigned desk in close vicinity to the faculty they work with.

Education

Applicants should have completed (or be near completion of) a Ph.D. in economics, marketing, computer science (ML/AI) or a related field. Ideal candidates have experience working with large-scale data sets, conducting work in statistical learning, econometrics or causal inference, utilizing machine learning and AI-based tools, and implementing controlled experiments.

Desired Competencies

• Demonstrated record of methodological excellence

• Experience curating, managing, and analyzing large or complex data sets

• Experience working in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, etc.)

• Strong analytical skills, including experience with modern empirical methods, including ML/AI.

• Facility with statistical programming tools commonly used in quantitative research (e.g., R, Python, SQL)

• Strong capabilities in using Generative and Agentic AI to accelerate research and programming.

• Strong scientific writing skills.

• Project management skills to move forward research projects with multiple co-authors.

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit:

1. A current CV

2. A research paper

3. A cover letter describing interest in the position, relevant skills, and areas of research interest

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The position has flexible starting dates between September 2026 and January 2027. The Senior Research Scientist appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal on a year-to-year basis subject to performance and funding. Questions about the position may be directed to f-zettelmeyer@kellogg.northwestern.edu.

Compensation will be based on experience and qualifications, with a base pay range of $125,000-$150,000 for a twelve-month appointment. This range is subject to negotiation. Northwestern University provides a pay range representing its good-faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the candidate, years since terminal degree, training, field or discipline, departmental budget availability, internal comparators, and external market pay for comparable positions.

Applications accepted here: Apply for Job

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.