Senior Research Scientist

In this role you lead applied economics and finance research that directly informs ION’s core banking products. You will design and validate quantitative models using advanced econometrics, ML, and causal inference, blending internal microdata with public sources. You’ll collaborate across engineering, product, and analytics to deploy robust models while upholding regulatory transparency. Through academic engagement and industry collaboration, you help shape the future of quantitative finance at a data-driven, innovation-focused firm.Retribuzione / Benefits

• Lead applied research initiatives in economics, finance, and data science with practical product relevance
• Design, implement, and validate models using econometrics, machine learning, causal inference, forecasting, and network analysis
• Drive methodological innovation by adopting state-of-the-art approaches and publishing in top venues
• Integrate internal microdata with external data sources to build richer models
• Translate research outcomes into deployable models, frameworks, and datasets for product integration
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and analytics teams to ensure robust deployment and governance of models
• Contribute to white papers, methodological notes, and regulatory policy briefs
• Supervise and mentor junior researchers and promote rigorous research culture
• Develop and maintain internal knowledge assets (code, datasets, documentation)
• Participate in joint papers and research outputs with partner universities and networks
• Support model governance, validation, and regulatory compliance documentation
• Represent ION in international conferences and academic collaborations
• Lead or contribute to internal training and disclosure of best practices to teams

• PhD in Economics, Finance, Data Science, Statistics, or related quantitative field (or Master’s with significant experience)
• Strong expertise in econometrics, causal inference, and ML applied to economics/finance
• Proficiency in Python with large datasets experience
• Familiarity with Databricks, PySpark, and data engineering workflows is a plus
• Deep understanding of financial systems, risk modeling, and regulatory frameworks
• Ability to conduct both academic research and product-oriented modeling
• Strong communication skills for multidisciplinary audiences
• Commitment to scientific integrity, transparency, and reproducibility