I would say

‘That I brought him onto my econometrics research project that started last year. He’s very good at algebra’ This

most definitely neutral, but it does not imply whether it was because of ability or social connections.

Summary:

In my opinion, I would not worry about indicating that this person is being hired or brought onto a project for social networks. I brought a boy on a student econometrics project last year because he

has many social connections. I wanted that guy’s job.

I met him

as a student at USC. I brought him to last year’s econometrics project because of his connections.

If this works, let me know.