Research Associate - J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean

About J-PAL:

J-PAL LAC is a non-profit research center that aims to reduce global poverty by generating rigorous scientific evidence on which social programs and policies can make a real difference in people's lives. Formed by a network of academics worldwide, J-PAL measures the impact of programs with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and uses these results to influence the design of public policies. The J-PAL network has conducted evaluations across dozens of countries, organized in 12 sectors. In Latin America, J-PAL LAC supports a growing portfolio of evaluations across the region.

J-PAL organizes its work into three main areas. Research: we partner with donors to create initiatives that fund research, and we also implement RCTs from data collection to data analysis. Public policy: we summarize research results, create alliances, and provide technical assistance to governments. Training: we lead executive training and develop rigorous online education to build regional knowledge.

The local grounding of J-PAL is essential for its success. The seven regional J-PAL offices are located at leading universities on five continents. In Latin America and the Caribbean, J-PAL LAC is headquartered at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile). J-PAL LAC also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Insper for work in Brazil and the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala for work in Central America.

In 2019, J-PAL founders Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee won the Nobel Prize in Economics for their experimental approach to alleviating poverty.

Our Office:

J-PAL LAC is based at UC Chile in Santiago, where most of our staff is located. We also have a team in São Paulo, based at Insper, teams in Guatemala and Mexico, and project staff in several LAC countries. We strive for a collegiate, horizontal, and amicable culture where peers can learn from each other and are not afraid to innovate. The office is led by Executive Director Paula Pedro, originally from Brazil, and Deputy Executive Director Claudia Macías, originally from Mexico. Paula leads the office's overall strategy and fundraising and has a more external-facing role. Claudia oversees our operations and develops strategic partnerships, especially with governments.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential to address poverty's complex causes and consequences. To advance our mission, J-PAL LAC must draw on diverse experiences from our staff and affiliated researchers to ask better questions and identify better solutions. We are working to increase the limited representation of individuals from underrepresented economic backgrounds. We are committed to self-reflection, learning, and dialogue to nurture understanding across differences. Together, we will build an equitable, inclusive culture where everyone is respected, empowered, and heard.

About the Team, Project, or Initiative:

The project evaluates the effect of Price Comparison Tools on negotiation and search outcomes for consumer credit markets in Chile. The team collaborates with Comisión para el Mercado Financiero (CMF), the Chilean financial regulator, to better understand how technology can improve consumers' decision-making in financial markets. The team is composed of Professor Sean Higgins (Northwestern University), Dr. Erik Berwart (CMF), Dr. Sheisha Kulkarni (University of Virginia), and Dr. Santiago Truffa (Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez).

Summary of the Role:

Manage and design a representative sample survey and assist in data collection and analysis to support the evaluation of Price Comparison Tools in consumer credit markets in Chile.

Responsibilities Include but Are Not Limited To:

• Design and deploy a representative sample survey.
• Manage and enforce quality control of survey data collection.
• Clean and manage survey data using R.
• Conduct statistical analysis on survey and administrative data.
• Coordinate and communicate with research partners.

Qualifications:

• Education: A bachelor's or master's degree in economics, political science, public policy, or a related field. Preference will be given to recent graduates. Knowledge of the design and analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) is a plus.
• Languages: This job is based in Chile, so full proficiency in Spanish is a must. Advanced English is needed, as you will interact frequently with the international research team.
• Experience: At least one year of professional experience. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in survey design, data management, and quantitative analysis.

Technical Skills:

• Excel: Advanced
• R: Advanced (required)
• Stata or Python: Desirable
• SurveyCTO: Advanced (required)
• Qualtrics: Advanced (required)

Work Permissions:

This position is open to citizens or foreigners with valid work permits in Chile at the time of applying for this vacancy.

Location:

Santiago, Chile. Work arrangement is flexible — a combination of on-site and remote. The position is open to full-time or part-time candidates with strong qualifications.