IRISS Predoctoral Researcher

About the Role

The Stanford Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) is seeking Predoctoral Researchers to participate in our 2026-2027 cohort. This is an 100% FTE 1-year fixed-term non-exempt position, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The start date is September 14, 2026. This is an on-site position based on the Stanford campus.

Project Description: Jean C. Oi—From Borrower to Venture Capitalist

For three decades, China's local governments filled their annual fiscal gaps and generated growth through debt financing. The institutional vehicle for this was the specially created local government financing vehicle (LGFV) that borrowed on behalf of local governments. Revenues related to land and real estate became the essential source of revenues for local governments across China that fueled two decades of high-speed growth. But this source suffered a major blow when real estate markets collapsed in 2021. Since then, localities have tried various strategies to grow out of their huge local government debt burden. One of the most surprising ways localities are attempting to generate new revenues is to use LGFVs, the same special purpose vehicles used to borrow in the earlier period, to act as venture capitalists.

This project seeks to understand how LGFVs were able to transform from debtor to venture capitalist: when this occurred, how common this strategy is, and which localities are able to do this. The project also investigates whether localities most successful in equity investments diversified from land finance much earlier, and if so, when and why. The research maps how and where LGFVs are repositioning themselves as equity investors, including where they have venture capital funds to take stakes in firms far beyond their home jurisdictions. Beginning from the full population of LGFVs, the project traces ownership through China's business registration records across successive layers of subsidiaries and investment platforms, separating investment funds at each step. The procedure identifies LGFV-linked funds, which are then matched to records of tens of thousands of state venture investments spanning nearly two decades. The project studies where and why local state capital enters venture capital markets, which regions and industries it targets, how it co-invests with private capital, and what this shift implies for capital allocation, industrial policy, and the fiscal foundations of local government in China.

What You Will Learn

The predoctoral researcher will work with large-scale registry and firm-level data, contributing to data construction, entity classification, and empirical analysis. It is essential that the candidate have a good understanding of China's political economy, especially knowledge of the earlier role of LGFVs, as well as good methodological skills including handling large data sets. The predoc should be comfortable combining substantive knowledge of China's political economy with empirical data construction. The predoc will use the collected data on LGFVs to trace the ownership records and LGFV-linked funds to trace state venture investments.

Responsibilities

• Participating in the planning and performing/conducting of research tasks by applying basic knowledge and understanding of scientific theory using precedents or other published guidelines and knowledge of theory and methods when specific precedents do not exist. General instruction provided by the supervisor or principal investigator. May interpret study results in collaboration with supervisor or PI.
• Participate in the development and administration of survey instruments and rating scales requiring judgment in applying non-routine procedures or methods. Analyze and summarize results for review with supervisor.
• Audit the accuracy and validity of data.
• Review and audit case report forms for completion and accuracy with source documents and ensure compliance with research protocols.
• Identify, select, extract and summarize data and structured information. Present summary of findings to supervisor.
• Conduct literature searches, and write literature summaries and manuscripts, requiring preliminary judgments after the supervisor outlines conceptual approach.
• Build and organize data as requested by principal investigator or supervisor; use common statistical programs requiring the application of job control language in generating and organizing data.
• Adapt new, nonstandard methods outlined by supervisor in designing and evaluating phases of research projects (i.e., educational materials, questionnaires, strategies for recruitment, data quality control procedures and processes). May follow up to ensure approvals and completion, seeking guidance where necessary.
• Assist with development, communication and design of research findings to internal and external audiences, which may include web updates, social media, and/or white papers, for use in recruitment, educational, or awareness of programs, with guidance from supervisor.

Qualifications

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in an applicable life science, social science, physical science or similar specific discipline.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• General understanding of scientific theory and methods, typically gained through completion of an undergraduate degree in a related field.
• General computer skills and ability to quickly learn and master computer programs.
• Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance.
• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to complete detailed work accurately.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with study participants.
• Strong quantitative skills, including experience working with large datasets in Python and R.
• Familiarity with data cleaning, ownership-chain tracing, statistical analysis, and reproducible workflows is highly desirable.
• Experience with Chinese corporate registry data, financial statements, commercial databases such as WIND and QCC, and LLM-assisted data extraction would be especially useful.

Pay

The expected pay for this position is $32.45 per hour.

Schedule

This is an on-site position based on the Stanford campus. Predoctoral Researchers are in a staff category allowing them to enroll in one course per year for credit. Application deadline: July 27, 2026.