Application Guide

How to Apply for Research Analyst

at Happier Lives Institute

🏢 About Happier Lives Institute

Happier Lives Institute is a unique organization focused on using evidence to improve global wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on cost-effectiveness and mental health. They aim to shift donor and policymaker attention to interventions that truly increase happiness, making them a pioneer in the effective altruism space. Working here means contributing to high-impact decisions that can transform lives at scale.

About This Role

As a Research Analyst, you will synthesize evidence on wellbeing interventions to guide resource allocation for maximum global impact. Your work will directly influence charity evaluations and policy recommendations, turning complex data into actionable insights for donors and policymakers. This role is ideal for someone passionate about using rigorous research to solve real-world problems.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with reviewing recent studies on a wellbeing intervention, then updating a cost-effectiveness model in Excel or R. After lunch, you could draft a section of a research report, followed by a meeting with an academic partner to discuss data sources. You might end the day by writing a short blog post summarizing key findings for donors.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Happier Lives Institute Is Looking For

  • You have a strong background in literature reviews, meta-analyses, and evidence syntheses, preferably related to wellbeing or mental health.
  • You can build cost-effectiveness models that incorporate wellbeing metrics and are comfortable with quantitative analysis.
  • You excel at translating complex research findings into clear, compelling written content for non-academic audiences.
  • You are collaborative and enjoy working with academics, donors, and other stakeholders to drive evidence-based decisions.

📝 Tips for Applying to Happier Lives Institute

1

Tailor your cover letter to highlight specific experience with wellbeing or happiness research, even if tangential (e.g., positive psychology, subjective well-being measures).

2

Showcase any prior work that involved cost-effectiveness analysis or resource allocation, especially in global health or development.

3

Include links to writing samples that demonstrate your ability to simplify complex findings (e.g., blog posts, policy briefs).

4

Mention familiarity with key concepts in effective altruism, such as QALYs, DALYs, or wellbeing-adjusted life years (WELLBYs).

5

If you have experience with meta-analysis software (e.g., RevMan, Stata, R), explicitly state it in your resume.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Emphasize your passion for using evidence to improve global wellbeing and alignment with HLI's mission.", "Highlight specific examples of literature reviews or meta-analyses you've conducted, especially if they involved wellbeing outcomes.", 'Demonstrate your ability to communicate research to non-experts, e.g., through a blog post or report you wrote.', "Show how your skills in cost-effectiveness modeling can directly contribute to HLI's charity evaluations."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read HLI's published research reports and blog posts to understand their methodology and communication style.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the concept of WELLBYs (Wellbeing-Adjusted Life Years) and how HLI uses them.
  • → Review HLI's charity evaluations (e.g., on StrongMinds) to see how they apply their framework.
  • → Understand the broader effective altruism movement and key debates around wellbeing-focused giving.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach a meta-analysis on a wellbeing intervention with limited data?
2 What are the strengths and limitations of using subjective well-being measures (e.g., life satisfaction) in cost-effectiveness analysis?
3 Describe a time you had to reconcile conflicting evidence from multiple studies. How did you handle it?
4 How do you prioritize which interventions to evaluate when there are many potential candidates?
5 Explain a complex research finding to a non-academic audience in a way that is both accurate and engaging.
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference HLI's specific focus on wellbeing and cost-effectiveness.
  • Don't overlook the importance of writing skills—submitting a cover letter with typos or unclear language suggests you can't translate complex findings.
  • Don't neglect to mention any quantitative or modeling skills; this role is as much about analysis as it is about research synthesis.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: May 1, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

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Good luck with your application to Happier Lives Institute!

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