Vacancies
Motu offers opportunities for researchers starting out their careers to work with high calibre research and public policy experts. We employ smart graduates as Research Analysts, and also offer internships to excellent students who are interested in further study and research. We offer three main types of internships, but are flexible about timing and stage of study in some cases.
Read more about Motu’s internship programme on the Internships page and see below for current opportunities.
Contact Isabelle Sin (04 939 4250, ) with questions about any of our vacancies.
Read about some past Motu Research Analysts: Isabelle Sin, Melanie Morton, Andrew Aitken, Sylvia Dixon.
Research Analysts
Applications for Research Analyst positions are currently closed.
Are you an outstanding student in economics, statistics, or a related field who will have completed an Honours or Masters’ degree by the end of 2013?
Would you like to work for a small Wellington-based organisation whose mission is to conduct top quality economic and public policy research and disseminate it to those who can use it, while building research capacity in New Zealand?
Do you want to get your hands dirty with every stage of the research process, working closely with a senior researcher with a PhD from a renowned university such as Harvard, Stanford, or the London School of Economics?
We are currently seeking one or more such top students to join Motu as Research Analysts. Strong candidates will have an advanced university degree (honours or higher), a curiosity about economics questions, good computer and data analysis skills, strong inter-personal skills, and an interest in doing economic research on social or environmental issues.
We offer a relaxed yet stimulating work environment where you will be challenged and your skills as a researcher extended. Our past RAs have gone on to high level public sector positions and to PhD-level study at top international universities.
To apply, please send a covering letter, your CV, a list of any papers you are currently taking, and your academic transcript(s) (up-to-date, but need not be official) to Isabelle Sin at , and include “research analyst” in the email subject.
The starting date is negotiable, but is likely to be during summer 2013/14.
We invite you to browse our website to learn more about Motu and the types of research we do. You can read about our current and past RAs on our People page, or more about the position on our RA information sheet.
Summer Internships
Applications for summer internships are currently closed.
Are you an outstanding student in economics, statistics, or a related field who will have completed an undergraduate degree by summer 2013/14, and who plans to return to university for graduate study in 2014?
A summer internship at Motu will give you valuable hands-on experience in policy-relevant economic research, guided by internationally recognised senior economists.
Motu is currently seeking applications for several interns to work within one or more of our major research programmes, which include regional and community adjustment, water quality, climate change, fisheries regulation, inequality and infrastructure. We are particularly interested in candidates with excellent grades in econometrics or statistics, who are curious about economic or policy questions and are interested in one or more of our main research areas.
We offer a relaxed yet stimulating work environment where you will be challenged and your skills as a researcher extended.
Summer internships are paid full-time positions that usually run for 8-12 weeks between November and February.
To apply, please send a covering letter, your CV, a list of any papers you are currently taking, and your academic transcript(s) (up-to-date, but need not be official) to Isabelle Sin at , and include “summer intern” in the email subject.
For additional information, see our internships page, download a pdf of past intern experiences, or read about our intern alumni on our people page.
Maori Internships
Two Māori internships are available for 2013/14. Applications close 7 June 2013.
Poutama Trust Māori Internship
The internship is funded by the Motu Research and Education Foundation in association with Poutama Trust. It is envisaged that the intern will work with a Motu Senior Fellow (Dr Arthur Grimes) on aspects of Māori Business relevant to the vision and mission of Poutama Trust.
We are looking for a tertiary student (at any level of tertiary study) who is keen to explore new ideas and who has good written and oral communication skills. Some study in economics, commerce and/or other social sciences is desirable but not necessary. The intern will work with an experienced Motu Senior Fellow, gaining invaluable research skills. The exact nature of the work will depend on the background of the intern.
While the internship will operate over the summer vacation of 2013/14, it will be of use for the intern also to spend one to two weeks at Motu over a prior tertiary study break during 2013. All domestic interns at Motu receive a stipend.
To apply, please send a cover letter, a CV, academic record and the contact details of at least two academic referees to Isabelle Sin at . Applications close on 7 June 2013.
Wellbeing and Sustainability Māori Internship
Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, New Zealand’s leading independent economic research organisation, is currently accepting applications for a Māori intern.
The internship is funded through a Marsden Fund grant received from the Royal Society of New Zealand. The programme funded by this grant investigates the validity of wellbeing and sustainability indicators for New Zealand, including Māori perspectives on wellbeing and sustainability.
We are looking for a tertiary student (at any level of tertiary study) who is keen to explore new ideas and who has good written and oral communication skills. Some study in economics, commerce and/or other social sciences is desirable but not necessary. The intern will work with an experienced Motu Senior Fellow, gaining invaluable research skills. The exact nature of the work will depend on the background of the intern.
While the internship will operate over the summer vacation of 2013/14, it will be of use for the intern also to spend one to two weeks at Motu over a prior tertiary study break during 2013. All domestic interns at Motu receive a stipend.
To apply, please send a cover letter, a CV, academic record and the contact details of at least two academic referees to Isabelle Sin at . Applications close on 7 June 2013.