About the Ethereum Foundation
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Ethereum and related technologies
Our mission is to do what is best for Ethereum’s long-term success
Our role is to allocate resources to critical projects, to be a valued voice within the Ethereum ecosystem, and to advocate for Ethereum to the outside world
Overview
The EF is looking to hire a Microeconomics and Market Structure Research Scientist for the Robust Incentives Group, an Ethereum Research team
Cryptoeconomic interactions allow blockchain users to express complex preferences via orders fulfilled by a plethora of market participants, from base or secondary layer protocols to third-party sequencers
Settlement requires blockspace, a novel good with unique properties, manufactured and sold within decentralized systems
As the value for blockspace balloons to unprecedented highs, market sophistication increases
It is critical for protocols to understand this emerging landscape and provide public research to foster open conversations
At the Robust Incentives Group, you will be at the forefront of these conversations
With other members of the group, collaborators at the EF, industry leaders and academic experts, you will also take part in a dynamic research environment
Research topics for the role include, but are not limited to:
- Protocol-side infrastructure for blockspace markets
- Fee markets and blockchain resource pricing
- Economic models of user demand
- Contract theory and pricing models for order flow
- Incentive compatibility of cryptoeconomic mechanisms
- Ordering protocols and block building primitives
- Economic models for privacy
- Financial primitives and derivatives for market participants
- Simulations and data analysis
About You
- You are passionate about harnessing decentralized economic systems to power robust, open infrastructure for all
You recognize in this description the mission of Ethereum and its allies and identify with such values
- You revel in peeling back layers and communicating your findings clearly and widely
You believe in science as a public good and you are collaborative in nature
- You’re independently-minded and self-motivated
You also enjoy the benefits of a remote-first team and the opportunities to collaborate with your teammates
- You have research experience in (algorithmic) game theory, mechanism design, microeconomics, market structure, financial engineering, econometrics, computer science, mathematics, blockchain protocols or other relevant domains
While a Ph
D
is not an absolute requirement for the role, a strong research background is expected, in an academic setting or otherwise
Contract Details
- Preference to full-time candidates but we are open to exploring options for the right person
We’re flexible
If you’re interested in this role but not sure about how it fits into your life (, you are still in the process of finishing your PhD), apply anyway
- The Ethereum Research team offers a unique work environment:
- Remote-first: our team is distributed across the globe (with option of offices in Berlin or Boulder)
- Flat hierarchy: independence in day-to-day work
- Optional travel throughout the year: Ethereum conferences, research workshops, annual Devcon event
- Collaborations with academia & industry: we maintain collaborations on high-impact projects with the industry and grant relationships with academia
- Flexible PTO
- Possibility to join the  past six months of employment, when meeting conditions (participation in Ethereum public goods or research commons)
How to Apply
Submit a CV, cover letter or any other material highlighting your facility with the above work
Tangible outputs such as writings, papers or code repositories are prioritized
We encourage persons from under-represented groups to apply to our position