Research Specialist – Busara Center for Behavioral Economics
Country :Kenya
Education :Some post-secondary education
Bachelor’s
Master’s
Other advanced degree
Honours
Language Requirement :English
Length of Commitment :More than two years
Start Date :July 31, 2018 – October 31, 2018
The Busara Center for Behavioral Economics is an advisory and research organization focused on advancing and applying behavioral science in emerging markets. Busara applies rigorous research methods and evaluation tools to enable partners to improve program design, assess existing interventions, and optimize internal processes. Busara operates from its permanent offices in Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, and has worked on projects with partners across the continent. We currently have 69 active projects, 112 completed projects, 36 academic affiliations, 3 operational decision labs, and 145 full time staff.
Busara is a non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Professor Johannes Haushofer (Princeton University) and operating under the leadership of Dr. Jeremy Shapiro. We have worked on projects related to agriculture, financial inclusion, savings, inequality, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and other questions central to development economics.
The Busara Center is growing once again. We are taking applications for new associates. This year we’ve signed new projects in Egypt and Pakistan, started a Policy Innovation Unit in Nigeria and grown our Ugandan office. We’ve examined poverty through the prism of aspirations, stress levels and cash transfers. We are now operating in Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria, as well as Kenya. That’s all in pursuit of our twin missions of advancing behavioral science and alleviating poverty.
Does this sound interesting? If so, are you looking to:
- Work with world class academics to design and develop research projects focused on using behavioral science to alleviate global poverty
- Design state-of-the-art research systems to support field and lab research
- Implement qualitative and quantitative behavioral research
- Develop and pilot instruments
- Provide technical support to large scale field lab and consulting projects with leading academics and institutions
- Write academic white papers based on internal research studies and our advisory work
- Write pre-analysis plans, analyze data
- Disseminate results, prepare project reports and present results
- Live, travel and work in Africa from a base in Nairobi
Good. So you’re interested in the organisation and what the role entails. But do you have what we’re looking for?
- A bachelor’s degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, or related fields. Other fields will be considered.
- 1-3 years previous work experience in a related field
- Strong knowledge of experimental social science literature (economics, political science, psychology)
- Experience designing lab and field experiments
- Strong quantitative skills, particularly econometrics and statistics
- Excellent data analysis skills using Stata and/or R
- Excellent management and organizational skills
- Fluency and excellent communication skills in English
- Interest and experience working in a fast-paced working environment
- Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, a team player
And preferably:
- A Master’s degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, or related fields
- Experience managing and mentoring staff
- Familiarity with and interest in behavioral economics or science
- Familiarity in the contexts which we work in
For more information, see here.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Great – please apply before Friday June 15th, 2018. The application closes at midnight. Submit your application through the following link: https://busara.workable.com/j/05FDBAEF2B
What’s the difference between an “Associate” and a “Research Specialist”?
If you’re looking for jobs, you might notice that the Associate and Research Specialist look quite similar. That’s because they are, but have a few subtle differences. Research Specialists sit in our Labs division and focus on designing and implementing cutting edge experimental research. They write papers and focus on the technical (science) aspect of the work that we do. Primarily Research Specialists support internal research and academics, with technical assistance to other Associates on their projects.
Associates on the other hand are more focused on applied behavioral science with our partners. They manage and execute the bulk of our projects with partners (typically applied behavioral science), and will bring in Research Specialists when extra technical work is needed.
If you’re more interested in working with organizational clients, the Associate position is probably a better fit, and if you are more interested in pure research, the Research Specialist position is likely better for you. Note that you can apply for both positions, for which you will be independently evaluated, so if you’re not sure, or like both, do apply!
Important Information on Applying
At Busara we embed behavioral science into everything we do, including the hiring process. In an effort to de-bias ourselves from what we know can cause systematic hiring discrimination, we do as many things as possible blindly and objectively.
For you, that means you have to fill out the questions on the application as well as upload your CV. I know, this is infuriating, but it’s not because we’re lazy — it’s because we are going to blindly review candidates based on the answers to your questions as well as their education and experience, and consider full CVs in future stages of the process. Thus, it’s very important for you to fill out the questions completely, without mention of your name or any other potentially biasing information about yourself. Please go to the link to fill out the forms: https://busara.workable.com/j/05FDBAEF2B