How to apply for Economist

About Animal Ask

Animal Ask is a remote-first research organization that helps animal advocacy groups make better decisions by providing in-depth, cross-comparative research on the most promising opportunities for animals. Unlike many advocacy groups, Animal Ask focuses on rigorous economic and policy analysis to identify high-impact interventions, making it a unique fit for economists who want to apply their skills to animal welfare. Working here means directly contributing to strategic decisions that shape the global animal advocacy movement.

About the role

As an Economist at Animal Ask, you will conduct economic research to help animal advocacy organizations prioritize high-impact policy reforms and interventions. Your work will involve estimating the economic impacts of animal welfare reforms on production costs, market dynamics, trade, consumption, and alternative protein development across different regions. You will synthesize complex research into clear, decision-relevant summaries that directly inform advocacy strategies, making your analysis instrumental in driving effective change for animals.

A typical day

A typical day might involve running economic models in R to simulate the effects of a proposed animal welfare policy, then synthesizing findings into a brief for an advocacy partner. You might also attend a virtual team meeting to discuss research priorities, or dive into literature to gather data for a cross-regional comparison. The work is highly analytical, collaborative, and directly tied to strategic decision-making for animal advocacy.

Who Animal Ask is looking for

• Holds an undergraduate degree in economics and is eager to rapidly learn technical skills such as R programming and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Has a strong foundation in microeconomics, policy analysis, or econometrics, with the ability to model market effects and estimate economic impacts.
• Possesses excellent research synthesis skills, able to distill findings from multiple sources into actionable summaries for non-expert audiences.
• Preferred: Postgraduate degree in economics, experience with equilibrium modeling, or regional expertise in Latin America, Africa, or Asia.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience with economic modeling, especially equilibrium modeling or cost-effectiveness analysis, even if from academic projects.
• Demonstrate familiarity with animal welfare issues or a strong motivation to apply economics to animal advocacy; mention specific reforms or interventions you find promising.
• Show proficiency in R or other programming languages, and express willingness to quickly learn R if not already skilled.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize cross-comparative research and decision-relevant synthesis, as Animal Ask values this highly.
• If you have regional expertise in Latin America, Africa, or Asia, explicitly connect it to how you would model policy impacts in those contexts.

What to cover in your cover letter

In your cover letter, emphasize your ability to conduct rigorous economic research and translate it into actionable insights for advocacy strategy. Highlight any experience with modeling market dynamics, trade, or policy impacts, and explain why you are motivated to apply these skills to animal welfare. Mention specific technical skills (e.g., R, cost-effectiveness analysis) and your eagerness to learn. If applicable, discuss your regional expertise and how it could enhance Animal Ask's work. Finally, convey your understanding of Animal Ask's mission and how you would contribute to their cross-comparative research approach.

Research before applying

• Explore Animal Ask's website and read their published research reports to understand their methodology and focus areas.
• Research key animal welfare reforms (e.g., cage-free commitments, meat reduction policies) and their economic implications to speak fluently about them.
• Investigate the animal advocacy landscape and major organizations that Animal Ask supports, to understand the context of your work.
• Familiarize yourself with cost-effectiveness analysis and equilibrium modeling in the context of animal agriculture, perhaps by reading relevant academic literature.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you estimate the economic impact of a ban on battery cages on egg production costs and market prices in a specific region?
• Describe a time you synthesized complex economic research into a summary for a non-expert audience. What was the outcome?
• What experience do you have with equilibrium modeling or other economic modeling techniques? Walk us through a project.
• How would you approach modeling the effects of a policy change on animal product trade and consumption in Latin America, Africa, or Asia?
• Why are you interested in applying economics to animal advocacy, and how do you see your work contributing to Animal Ask's mission?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention animal welfare or Animal Ask's specific mission.
• Failing to demonstrate any quantitative or modeling skills, as the role requires strong economic analysis.
• Ignoring the remote nature of the role and not showing ability to work independently or collaborate effectively online.