Associate Research Fellow / Research Fellow

Job Summary:

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks an Associate Research Fellow or Research Fellow to join an established research team for a two-year, renewable appointment in its Poverty Health and Nutrition Division (PHND). The selected candidate will conduct policy-relevant, applied microeconomics research, including conducting impact evaluations, on development in low- and lower-middle-income countries. This research will address important topics related to social protection; poverty alleviation; gender equality and social inclusion; household resilience to climate change; and the impact of large-scale maternal and child health and nutrition programs. Researchers are expected to maintain an outstanding publication record and to contribute policy advice and high-quality research communication to governments, implementing partners, donors, and other stakeholders. This position is based at IFPRI headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will require international travel. We will consider requests for this position to be based at IFPRI offices in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, or Kenya.

Please note that Associate Research Fellow appointments at IFPRI have a maximum term of three (3) years, inclusive of any approved appointment extensions. After the maximum appointment term, Associate Research Fellows are typically considered for promotion to Research Fellow based on peer-reviewed publications and other contributions to projects and the Institute.

Essential Duties:

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Conduct innovative research on social protection; poverty alleviation; gender equality and social inclusion; household resilience to climate change; the impact of large-scale maternal and child health and nutrition programs; and other topics relevant to the research agenda of the Division and the Institute.
• Contribute to designing and implementing impact evaluations that support the Division’s research agenda.
• Conduct empirical analysis using rigorous econometric methods and publish research findings in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Manage survey fieldwork activities, working closely with senior researchers, local collaborators, and research support staff and liaising with program implementing partners and donors.
• Oversee and mentor research assistants in fieldwork, coding, and other tasks.
• Communicate research findings to policymakers, donors, implementing partners, and the academic community at national, regional, and international levels.
• Maintain relationships with research programs’ implementing partners, donors, and other stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Public Policy, or related field
• Demonstrated knowledge of econometric techniques used in microeconomic analysis and impact evaluations (e.g., randomized trials, difference-in-difference, regression discontinuity, etc.).
• Prior research on applied microeconomics topics of relevance to the Division’s research agenda, including on social protection; poverty alleviation; gender equality and social inclusion; household resilience to climate change; or the impact of large-scale maternal and child health and nutrition programs
• A record of – or good prospects for – publication of high-quality original research in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience working in multicultural teams
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English
• Willingness to travel and work in low- and lower-middle-income countries

  At the Research Fellow Level:

• 3+ years of post-PhD experience relevant to the job and demonstrated fundraising experience.
• Excellent publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• Major external recognition within peer professional network due to publications and other leadership activities
• Demonstrated leadership skills and strong experience building and managing teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively design and implement survey data collection
• Field experience in collecting quantitative household survey data in low- and lower-middle-income countries, especially in Africa or South Asia.
• Ability and experience in managing internal and external relationships with project teams, donors, and collaborators
• Experience working with researchers from other disciplines including nutrition and health
• Fluency in a language other than English (fluency in major languages used in any of our countries of work is an asset, including, but not limited to Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, French, Hindi, Swahili, or any of the languages of Nigeria).

At IFPRI, we prioritize the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends.  In response to the increased transmissibility with recent COVID-19 variants, all US-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, as a condition of employment. Accommodations due to medical or religious exemptions will be considered.

IFPRI Washington D.C has a hybrid work environment that allows staff members a minimum of two days in-office work and three days remote work.

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