Research Associate

About the Trust

The University of Chicago Trust (the Trust) is a charitable trust in India, established in 2008 by an alumnus of The University of Chicago. The Trust’s objectives are to provide opportunities for grants to support educational programs, research programs and activities for the betterment of India.

The Development Innovation Lab - India (DIL-India)

DIL-India, based at the Trust in India, is dedicated to using the tools of economics to benefit millions of people. We work across sectors like health, education, agriculture, climate change, road safety, and others. We do so by partnering with government agencies, firms, and non-profits in India to identify, test, and scale evidence-based solutions. 

DIL-India has a fast-growing portfolio of policy relevant research. For example, DIL-India is working closely with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other partners to identify and test safe water solutions that could be deployed at scale. Our estimates suggest that safe water solutions could save the lives of up to 136,000 children annually in India. DIL-India  is also working with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to evaluate the impact of personalized adaptive learning on student outcomes in secondary schools across the state.

Position Description

DIL-India is seeking full-time Research Associates to collaborate on new and ongoing research in development economics. Successful applicants will collaborate with Principal Investigators (PIs) at the Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago, including Professor Michael Kremer, Nobel laureate, and DIL Faculty Director. The ideal candidate possesses a mix of economics, analytical, interpersonal and communications skills, and is passionate about conducting research in development economics.

Responsibilities

  • Supports the design and implementation of experiments under the direction of the PI.
  • Design and refine data collection instruments as well as data collection and monitoring protocols aligned with the research design and desired outcome measurements.
  • Leads field research activities including training and overseeing the work of research support personnel.
  • Codes high-frequency checks and analyzes data from field activities.
  • Manage relationships with collaborating organizations
  • Conducts literature reviews.
  • Support in writing policy memos, technical reports, and academic manuscripts summarizing research findings.
  • Presents research findings at staff meetings, seminars, and scientific conferences.
  • Assists with building databases.
  • Maintains technical and organizational support for a research project.
  • Perform additional related duties assigned by the PI or senior management.

Required Qualifications

Education:

  • A master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Environment Policy, Science, or another related field.  
  • Will consider a bachelor’s degree in a related field with at least one year of work experience.

Experience:

  • At least one year of experience, which can be a combination of graduate education and work experience. 
  • Advanced knowledge of research techniques and methods in relevant scientific fields. 
  • Demonstrated ability to independently manage components of field research projects, including research design, data management, and analysis is preferred

Competencies

  • Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills.
  • Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player.
  • Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication, and presentation skills.
  • Excellent data management, cleaning, and analysis skills. 
  • Familiarity with Stata/R is required and experience with Survey CTO is preferred.
  • Strong demonstrated interest in the development sector.
  • Fluency in both English and Hindi. Fluency (at least spoken) in other Indian languages like Telugu and Odia is preferred.
  • Knowledge of impact evaluations, particularly with randomized controlled trials is preferred.

Working Conditions

  • Positions are based in Delhi, Telangana, Bhubaneswar or other project sites.
  • Candidates must be flexible and able to travel extensively across India as per the requirement of their assignments.
  • Possible travel to the United States 
  • Duration: 1 year full-time position with possible extension
Applicant must be legally authorized to work in India

Application Documents

  • Resume/CV (required)
  • Cover Letter (required)
  • References Contact Information (3 required)

The anticipated start date for this position is February 2025. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Candidates will continue to be screened on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Apply Online