J-PAL is currently accepting applications on an ongoing basis. To see the list of current job postings, please use the search box on the left. To see all available jobs, click here.

J-PAL is a network of 64 affiliated professors around the world who are united by their use of randomized evaluations to answer questions critical to poverty alleviation. J-PAL’s headquarters are at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, and J-PAL’s regional offices are in Paris (France), Santiago (Chile), Chennai (India), and Cape Town (South Africa). J-PAL affiliated professors employ research staff through a variety of research centers, including Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), Centre for Microfinance, Evidence for Policy Design, Center of Evaluation for Global Action, Ideas42, and the Small Enterprise Finance Center. In addition to the annual recruiting drive, J-PAL hires throughout the year as needed to fill staff positions. Only staff hired for positions at J-PAL in Cambridge, MA will be hired as MIT employees. All other staff, including those hired by J-PAL regional offices, will be hired by the specific research center or university they are working with.

J-PAL’s 2012 Annual Recruitment Drive is now closed.
All applications submitted between December 16, 2011 and January 31, 2012 will be included in J-PAL’s 2012 Annual Recruitment Drive. All applications will become part of a common database for researchers and hiring managers seeking to fill positions beginning in summer 2012. Staff at J-PAL, IPA, and CEGA will screen all incoming applications during this period. After all applications have been screened, the list of candidates will be made available to researchers affiliated with J-PAL and our sister organizations. Researchers and their support staff will then begin contacting applicants for interviews and further information. Only applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted, and we are unable to provide feedback on specific applications.

How to Apply
Please follow application instructions for openings for specific positions that can be found using the search function to the left. In addition, make sure to complete the J-PAL common application, including submission of transcripts, letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, and CVs.

Job Opportunities
J-PAL and our sister organizations have Research Associate, Research Analyst, and Research Manager positions available, as well as project specific positions that can be found by using our search function on the left. Positions at J-PAL and our sister organizations fall into four categories:

• Type 1: Field Research Associate or Project Associate
• Type 2: Office-based Data Research Analyst or Project Associate
• Type 3: Research Manager or Project Coordinator
• Type 4: Policy, Administration and Management



More than 70 openings are anticipated, 70 percent of which are based in the field. Some positions are available at J-PAL in Cambridge, MA, at IPA in New Haven, CT, or at affiliates’ home institutions. All of the positions are full-time and most require a minimum of one year. More detailed descriptions of our position types may be found at http://www.povertyactionlab.org/Jobs/Job-Categories.

Selection and Interview Process: J-PAL is a network of professors who run research projects around the world. Though we have a centralized application database, the hiring process is highly decentralized. Professors and hiring managers from throughout the J-PAL network will browse applicants by geographic location, interest, flexibility, and language skills. Candidates may receive interviews from several researchers or organizations throughout the selection process.

If you are having technical difficulties with your online application, please contact jobs@povertyactionlab.org.

For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.