Senior Research Scientist

About ION and Our Research Mission At ION, research is not separate from product — it is the engine of innovation.Our mission is to transform the world of financial and economic intelligence through rigorous, data-driven research embedded directly in product development.ION’s Core Banking and Analytics platforms provide access to one of the most comprehensive data ecosystems in the financial sector — spanning transactional, accounting, behavioral, textual, and unstructured data from across multiple banking institutions.Our research team leads the scientific development of ION’s core financial products — including credit risk scoring, early warning systems, portfolio monitoring, and digital finance analytics — while advancing the global state of knowledge through academic publications, international collaborations, and participation in top-tier conferences.About the Role We are seeking a Senior Researcher in Applied Economics and Finance with a strong quantitative and modeling background to lead and execute advanced research projects at the intersection of economics, data science, and financial modeling.The ideal candidate holds a PhD or a Master’s degree (with significant research or industry experience) in Economics, Finance, Data Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.They will work in an environment where academic rigor and applied innovation coexist, developing the next generation of quantitative models that power ION’s financial products and meet the highest standards of regulatory transparency and explainability.This role also includes participation in ION’s global research network, with opportunities to collaborate with ION Labs hosted at Bocconi University, HEC Paris, and leading universities, and to present at international academic and industry conferences.Key Responsibilities ·Research and ModelingoLead applied research initiatives in economics, finance, and data science, ensuring both theoretical soundness and practical applicability to ION’s core banking products.oDesign, implement, and validate models using advanced econometrics, machine learning, causal inference, forecasting, and network analysis.oDrive innovation by adopting and testing state-of-the-art methodologies, contributing to ION’s position as a thought leader in quantitative finance.oUse ION’s internal microdata (transactional, financial, textual, and behavioral) and combine it with public and alternative data sources (news, sentiment, macroeconomic indicators).·Product Development and ImpactoTranslate research outcomes into tangible outputs: models, analytical frameworks, algorithms, and datasets for integration into ION’s product suite.oCollaborate closely with engineering, product, and analytics teams to ensure robust deployment of models and insights.oSupport model governance and regulatory compliance, producing documentation, validation frameworks, and explanatory material for supervisory authorities.oContribute to white papers, methodological notes, and policy briefs that explain ION’s modeling philosophy to clients and regulators.·Academic and Global CollaborationoConduct and publish research in top-tier academic journals in economics, finance, or data science.oRepresent ION at international conferences and research workshops, presenting both applied and theoretical contributions.oCollaborate with ION Labs in partner universities (Bocconi, HEC Paris, and top institutions), co-developing joint projects, data infrastructures, and research outputs.oLead or contribute to joint papers, vademecum, and comparative studies on digital finance, risk modeling, and regulatory compliance.·Leadership, Mentorship, and Knowledge TransmissionoSupervise and mentor junior researchers and data scientists, promoting methodological rigor and intellectual curiosity.oFoster a culture of research discipline across ION through internal courses, reading groups, and seminars on applied econometrics, data modeling, and causal inference.oContribute to the creation of an internal “ION Research Curriculum”, designed to disseminate knowledge and standardize best practices across teams.oHelp build a shared library of reusable code, datasets, and research documentation to support long-term institutional memory.·Data Environment and Technical StackoWork within ION’s Databricks-based data architecture, using PySpark and internal data lakes to process large-scale structured and unstructured datasets.oApply and extend machine learning pipelines including XGBoost, LightGBM, Random Forests, Neural Networks, Kalman Filtering, and Survival Analysis.oImplement robust causal inference frameworks (DiD, IV, RDD, Synthetic Control, and panel-data models) to establish credible empirical evidence.oCollaborate with ION’s engineering teams to automate model training, validation, and deployment workflows, ensuring reproducibility and scalability.Deliverables and Performance Metrics The success of the Senior Researcher will be evaluated along three dimensions:oScientific Excellence — quality and impact of research output (publications, conference presentations, academic collaborations).oProduct Innovation — contribution to the design and performance of models, datasets, and analytical frameworks implemented in ION’s solutions.oOrganizational Impact — leadership in mentoring, internal teaching, and dissemination of rigorous research methodologies across ION.Expected outputs include:oAcademic publications or working papers (1–2 per year).oContributions to white papers, regulatory vademecum, and client documentation.oOperational models or datasets integrated into ION products.oActive participation in international conferences (at least 1–2 per year).Required Qualifications & Skills oPhD (or Master’s with significant experience) in Economics, Finance, Data Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.oStrong expertise in econometrics, causal inference, and machine learning applied to economic and financial problems.oProficiency in Python, with experience handling large datasets.oFamiliarity with Databricks, PySpark, and data engineering workflows is a plus.oDeep understanding of financial systems, risk modeling, and regulatory frameworks.oDemonstrated ability to conduct both academic research and product-oriented modeling.oStrong communication skills and ability to articulate technical content to multidisciplinary audiences.oCommitment to scientific integrity, transparency, and reproducibility.Career Path and Growth This position is part of ION’s Research Track, a career pathway that allows researchers to advance based on scientific excellence, impact, and leadership.Outstanding performance in this role may lead to advancement as Principal Researcher or Head of Research Area, overseeing larger research programs and representing ION in external collaborations.Why Join ION oWork at the intersection of finance, data science, and applied economics, with access to one of the richest financial datasets in Europe.oConduct world-class research with real-world impact and visibility in both academia and industry.oCollaborate with top universities and global research networks.oShape the next generation of financial products and analytical infrastructures.oBe part of a multidisciplinary team that values rigor, innovation, and intellectual freedom.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.