Research Associate, Improving Financial Access – IPA
Organization
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)
Country :Kenya
Education :Bachelor’s
Master’s
Other advanced degree
Language Requirement :English
Length of Commitment :Two years
Start Date :December 01, 2018
Michael Kremer (Harvard) and Gautam Rao (Harvard) are hiring a Research Associate to manage a field experiment in rural Kenya. The project applies insights from behavioral economics to study financial decision making. In partnership with a local financial institution, the experiment will explore the psychology behind how individuals respond to different financing contracts.
The Research Associate will manage the day-to-day operations of the study, including implementation of the interventions and data collection. This role will require both management and research skills, as well as flexibility and organization. Management responsibilities will include overseeing staff, maintaining a relationship with the partner organization, and data systems management. Research responsibilities will include ensuring adherence to the research design, monitoring data quality, and supporting data analysis as needed. The Research Associate must balance strong leadership to keep the project moving forward, while also monitoring the progress through data analysis and checks. Close attention to detail and perseverance are required when facing the dynamic challenges that may arise as the study progresses.
You will be in constant contact with the Principle Investigators, but they will only visit the site on occasion. Project-related decisions often need to be made in a timely and independent manner. The successful Research Associate will think through such decisions carefully, but then decisively move forward with a plan of action.
Desired Qualifications and Experience:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s (preferred) degree in economics or other related social sciences with substantial quantitative work
- Excellent academic record from a top-tier university
- Fluency with at least one statistical programming software (Stata preferred)
- Strong organizational skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills required
- Familiarity with randomized control trials
- Previous experience in developing countries, specifically East Africa, is a strong plus
- Fluency in English is required
