Associate Research Fellow/Research Fellow

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as an Associate Research Fellow or Research Fellow for a two-year, renewable appointment for its Markets, Trade and Institutions Division. The position is based in Washington, DC, and reports to the Director of the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division. Grade level will be determined by demonstrated expertise and experience.

The (Associate) Research Fellow will conduct research aligned with the Markets, Trade, and Institutions’ research portfolio, with a focus on gender roles in agriculture, value chains interventions, and engaging the private sector that works within agricultural value chains or alongside them.  The research that the (Associate) Research Fellow would conduct will occur primarily from an empirical, microeconometric perspective. The goal of the portfolio is to accelerate the adoption and impacts of innovations that can help improve gender equity, farmer and midstream food system actor incomes, nutrition, and climate outcomes. The researcher will help design primary data source collection, undertake impact evaluations and assess marketability of mentioned innovations to inform the design of programs and policies for scaling, as well as to inform cost-benefit analysis for future investment prioritization.

Essential Duties (for ARF level)

• Conducting research and analysis related to microeconomic interventions in agricultural value chains, and gender roles in agriculture.
• Developing and overseeing individual work plans and coordinating particular research activities 
• Maintaining a high level of research output for publication outlets both within IFPRI, and for peer-reviewed journals within the wider scientific community, on topics of close relevance to the work of the Division.
• Creating linkages to possible external collaborators and research groups, when possible to further IFPRI’s work.
• Communicating research to a broad spectrum of stakeholders (researchers, academicians, policy makers, local partners).
• Assisting in development and monitoring of a project budget.
• Assisting in reporting on program/project activities.
• May assist in supervising or coordinating the work of Research support staff

Essential Duties (for RF level)

• Conducting research related microeconomic interventions in agricultural value chains, and gender roles in agriculture.
• Developing and overseeing individual work plans, coordinating particular research activities, and contributing to developing new ideas into proposals. 
• Developing and managing research projects.
• Publish research in high-quality, peer-reviewed publications on topics of close relevance to the position and the work of the Division.
• Assist in identifying and cultivating funding prospects and develop funding strategies for project/programs.
• Developing research funding proposals and preparing donor reports.
• Communicating research to a broad spectrum of stakeholders (researchers, academicians, policy makers, local partners).
• Creating links to external collaborators and groups and assisting with capacity-strengthening activities.
• Working on developing and monitoring of the program/ project budget.
• Providing regular reporting on program/project activities and budgets.
• Contributing to the preparation of internal and external program reviews.
• Supervise and/or coordinate the work of research support staff.

Required Qualifications (at ARF level)

• PhD in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Public Policy, or closely related fields
• Excellent econometric/statistical skills
• Expertise in applied microeconomics with experience in impact evaluation (including RCTs and other tools for casual inference) and household surveys
• Demonstrated ability to use economic theory in innovative and policy relevant ways
• Demonstrated capacity to produce high-quality research for publication in peer- reviewed journals
• Demonstrated experience in effective interactions in a multicultural setting with other researchers and collaborators.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills with demonstrated excellence in written and oral presentations.
• Willingness to travel for projects and/or team meetings
• Experience in developing, managing and/or reporting on project budgets.

Required Qualifications (at RF level)

• PhD in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Public Policy, or closely related fields
• Minimum of 3 years of post-PhD relevant experience relevant to the job.
• Demonstrated research experience in policy analysis and policy recommendations.
• Proficiency in applied microeconomics with experience in impact evaluation (including RCTs and other tools for casual inference) and household surveys
• Demonstrated ability to perform critical analyses of own & others’ research
• Demonstrated leadership skills and strong experience building and managing teams
• Excellent publications record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated experience in effective interactions in a multicultural setting with other researchers and with policymakers, donors, and civil society, facilitating impact of research & capacity strengthening
• Demonstrated interaction and participation in professional networks in economics or related field.
• Willingness to travel extensively as required
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills with demonstrated excellence in written and oral presentations.
• Experience in developing, managing and/or reporting on project budgets.
• Demonstrated computer literacy (PC, Microsoft Applications, and advanced software for quantitative economic and statistical analysis).
• Experience in identifying funding prospects, developing project proposals and effectively raise research funding.
• Experience supervising and/or coordinating research support staff desirable.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in a second language of the U.N. system, preferable French or Spanish
• Field experience in collecting quantitative project and household data in developing countries
• Proficiency in use of advanced software for quantitative analysis, including household survey analysis (STATA, R, or alike)

Physical Demand & Work environment:

• Employee will sit in an upright position for a long period of time with little opportunity to move/stretch.
• Employee will travel extensively (domestic and international)
• Employee will lift between 0-10 pounds.
• Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing computer terminal; extensive reading.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is an equal employment opportunity employer – F/M/Disability/Vet/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.

Apply here.