Research Assistant - J-PAL Europe

J-PAL Europe at the Paris School of Economics (PSE) is recruiting a Research Assistant to manage a randomized evaluation project, IDEALUX, which focuses on asylum seekers and refugee integration in Luxembourg. The project is conducted in partnership with LISER, J-PAL researchers and other local partners.

Activities

Under the supervision of the J-PAL/PSE and LISER research team, the research assistant is responsible for the practical, day-to-day management of the project. The main tasks include:

• Learn and follow research protocols: understand survey instruments, ethical procedures, and contribute to field planning.
• Support data collection in the field: assist in organizing tablets and materials, preparing slides for data collection, and coordinating participant attendance with partners (including occasional trips to Luxembourg).
• Collaborate with partners and field teams: ensure adherence to study protocols, conduct spot-checks and back-checks, and provide logistical support.
• Monitor and ensure data quality: run daily high-frequency checks, flag inconsistencies or errors, and follow up with the team as needed.
• Manage and process data: harmonise, clean, and document survey data in close coordination with the team.
• Contribute to data analysis: produce descriptive statistics, summary tables, and basic visualizations and statistical analyses to support the team.
• Contribute to reporting and documentation: prepare short progress and monitoring reports, draft internal notes, methodological documents, and other outputs related to data collection and analysis.
• Conduct background research and synthesis: review relevant literature and summarize findings to support methodological and project decisions.
• Assist with project coordination: attend meetings with partners and team members, prepare agendas and minutes, and follow up on action points.
• Support dissemination efforts: contribute to the preparation of presentations, figures, and tables for internal or external stakeholders.



Additional details

The position is full time, based in Paris, with periodic travel to Luxembourg to support data collection, the implementation process and meetings with partners. The initial contract will be for six months, with the possibility of extension.

The Research Assistant will work on a project involving several partners in France and Luxembourg, including academic institutions, researchers, government bodies, NGOs, and others.

Upon completing their term, Research Assistants will be well prepared to pursue master’s and doctoral programs, or careers in government, economics, public policy, consulting, and related fields.

Required Skills/Qualifications

• We encourage you to apply for this position even if you do not possess every skill or qualification listed.
• A bachelor’s degree in Economics or related social science field
• Excellent command of the English and French language.
• Experience in coordinating field surveys.
• Experience in managing impact evaluations or similar programs.
• Strong organizational skills and team management abilities.
• Mandatory proficiency in STATA.
• Knowledge of econometric analyses to evaluate public policies.
• Essential communication skills and strong interest in communication.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Economics or related social science field.
• Proficiency in softwares such as Python or R.
• Proficiency in econometric analysis.