Assistant or Associate Research Professor, Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management

About the Center

The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions (CHRIS) at the University of Denver is the first center of its kind in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West—an interdisciplinary hub for housing research, data, policy evaluation, and education. Bringing together expertise in real estate, land use law, public policy, and social sciences, CHRIS produces rigorous, nonpartisan research spanning the full housing continuum—from deeply affordable to market-rate, rental to homeownership—with a focus on production and preservation, affordability, and resilience.

CHRIS applies innovative research methods, policy tools, and technologies, including in emerging areas like industrialized construction, to expand what's possible for how housing is built, financed, accessed, and preserved. Through policy evaluation, comparative research, and market analytics, CHRIS translates evidence into practical, forward-looking solutions for policymakers, practitioners, and communities, while building regional data infrastructure that strengthens housing decision-making across Colorado and the region.

CHRIS also advances the next generation of housing leaders through research training, applied learning opportunities, and executive education for practitioners and policymakers. Housed in the Office of the Provost, CHRIS provides central leadership, infrastructure, and accountability while drawing on faculty expertise from across the University, including the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management, the Sturm College of Law, the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, and the Graduate School of Social Work. The Center partners closely with governments, nonprofits, philanthropy, and the private sector to evaluate housing policies, analyze market dynamics, and identify evidence-based solutions.

About the University

The University of Denver (DU) is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region and is classified as an R1 Doctoral/Research University. U.S. News and Times Higher Education have consistently ranked DU among the nation’s top 100 universities, while Princeton Review named DU as the university most loved by its students.

The Daniels College of Business, one of the largest colleges within the University, offers a variety of majors and minors, including nine bachelor’s degrees, four MBA degree programs, seven specialized master’s programs, and an Executive PhD program. Founded in 1908, Daniels is the eighth-oldest collegiate business program in the United States and has held AACSB accreditation since 1923. U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, Financial Times, Forbes, and Poets & Quants routinely recognize Daniels programs as among the best in the country.

The Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management, part of the Daniels College of Business, prepares students to fill an increasingly important role as integrated project leaders. The Burns School offers a Master of Science in Real Estate and the Built Environment (REBE), an undergraduate major in Real Estate and Construction Management, and minors with concentrations in Real Estate Finance and Investments, Real Estate Development, and Construction Management. The School is recognized as an innovative leader in real estate and construction management and works across the University to identify ambitious, yet pragmatic solutions to today’s most pressing housing challenges.

About the Role

The Housing Economist will hold a faculty research appointment (non-tenure track) in the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management and will serve as CHRIS's lead economist and methodologist. The role reports directly to the Executive Director of CHRIS, with a dotted-line relationship to the Director of the Burns School to support faculty appointment and integration into the Burns School community.

The Housing Economist will lead and publish peer-reviewed and applied policy research focused on housing economics and real estate markets, provide methodological leadership across CHRIS’s research portfolio, and collaborate with leaders and scholars from other units on campus and external institutions. The role involves developing and managing Housing Policy Simulators for Colorado in partnership with Terner Labs, conducting policy-relevant research, and representing DU at forums, conferences, and events.

Responsibilities

• Serve as CHRIS's lead economist and methodologist, publishing peer-reviewed and applied policy research in housing economics and real estate markets.
• Develop and apply Terner Labs' Housing Policy Simulator for Colorado communities and use resulting models to conduct policy-relevant research.
• Serve as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on sponsored grants and research projects.
• Advise CHRIS-affiliated researchers and staff on research design, econometrics, and causal inference methods.
• Supervise graduate research assistants and collaborate with faculty across departments and schools on research papers targeted at top-tier housing, real estate, and economics journals.
• Partner with researchers at the University of Denver and other institutions to support interdisciplinary housing research projects, integrating policy analysis with economic and demographic data, spatial analyses, industry reports, and other sources of information.
• Support communications and outreach that foster broader engagement with DU’s housing work.
• Participate in events sponsored by CHRIS, the Burns School, and other partners across DU, share research in writing and through presentations, and contribute to the intellectual life of the University.
• Present to large and small audiences as a subject matter expert.
• Guest lecture in various programs across campus and teach in the Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing and other units at DU (extra compensation at DU adjunct rates).

Requirements

• Doctorate degree in economics, public policy, or a related field with a primary focus on housing and/or real estate markets.
• Six years or more of progressively responsible applied research experience in housing economics, delivering actionable research insights.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in economics, real estate, or related academic journals.
• Strong methodological expertise in econometrics and causal inference research design.

Preferred Qualifications

• Willingness to focus on Colorado’s housing market and develop as a subject matter expert.
• Ability to write and present for a wide variety of audiences, ranging from local economic and real estate professionals to industry leaders and government officials.
• Knowledge of best practices and experience in summarizing and visualizing economic data in easy-to-understand ways.
• Working proficiency in econometric, analytical software, and/or GIS, including coding skills and familiarity with tools like Python.
• Strong, applied understanding of the macroeconomic and institutional drivers of housing markets, including demographics, household formation and composition, employment, and government regulations.
• Experience with economic forecasting.
• High standard of excellence and research integrity; outstanding judgment, dependability, and professionalism.
• Ability to perform independently and as part of a multidisciplinary collaborative team.
• Ability to mentor and supervise direct reports.
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and aptitude for mastering supportive technologies.
• Understanding of issues of equity and sustainability and their intersection with housing.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $150,000–$180,000. The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as qualifications, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

• Medical and dental benefits.
• Retirement plans.
• Paid time off.
• Tuition benefit.
• ECO pass for public transportation.