Research Associate, Payments and Governance Research Program - J-PAL South Asia

Project Title: Payments and Governance Research Program

Country: India

Start Date: April-May 2024

Length of Commitment: 12 months initial commitment, with scope to extend

Partners in the Project: Government of Odisha

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Economics, or related quantitative social science fields

Organization: J-PAL South Asia at IFMR 

Professors Karthik Muralidharan, Paul Niehaus, Sandip Sukhtankar, Gaurav Chiplunkar and Kartik Srivastava seek a qualified applicant for the position of Data Research Associate based in India. Unlike most RA positions based in India, this position offers the unique opportunity to gain first-hand data analysis and data management experience along with first-hand field experience, while undertaking cutting-edge development research. The RA will work on the Odisha High Frequency Monitoring research project, under the Payments and Governance Research Program. 

Data RAs work principally on writing code to optimize the design of large-scale randomized controlled trials and to analyze and interpret their results. Other tasks such as doing literature reviews and writing policy memos may be assigned according to need and interest. This is a unique position, offering the opportunity to (i) work on tough analytical problems around large-scale randomized evaluations, (ii) hone your data analysis skills, and (iii) prepare for a Ph.D. in quantitative fields such as economics, political science, or statistics. 

Context

India has witnessed major changes in social policy over the last few years. These changes, based on universal bank accounts (Jan Dhan), biometric authentication (Aadhaar), and mobile phones (the “JAM” platform), and ensuing JAM-enabled Direct Benefits Transfers (DBT), have elicited animated debates. Proponents view the shifts as essential to improving anti-poverty programs and efficiently using public finance. The Chief Economic Adviser to the Government describes this as “a quiet revolution of social welfare policy”. Yet critics point out some challenges that could prevent the JAM platform from delivering its full potential, including implementation challenges, subversion by vested interests, exclusion errors, unexpected perverse consequences, and unknown cost-effectiveness. 

In this sensitive environment, it is essential to have scientifically rigorous and representative data on the impacts of social policy reforms. The Payments and Governance Research Program works closely with the Government of India and several state governments to design policy reforms for subsidy programs and conduct a series of rigorous impact evaluations. The program aims to introduce global best practices in integrating high-quality research and evidence in policy-making, with real-time data collection on the most topical policy issues and with potential for immediate impact on the lives of hundreds of millions. Besides contributing directly to policy formation, these methods will also help to promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making at the heart of the Indian policymaking process. 

The Payments and Governance Research Program is funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and is housed in the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab South Asia at IFMR (J-PAL SA), which is one of six regional J-PAL offices across the world. Globally, J-PAL is headquartered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  

Research Associate Roles and Responsibilities:

The RA will work closely with academic researchers to perform a variety of tasks including (but not limited to) sampling, randomization, power calculations, data management and analysis. This role also includes working closely with field RAs and RM to lead phone and field surveys on the ground. 

• Analyzing data from the RCT
• Assisting PIs in sampling, randomization and power calculation exercises, when needed
• Launching monthly dashboards displaying indicators from multiple data sources for the study participants of the RCT
• Designing survey questionnaires, conducting qualitative and quantitative research, running pilot exercises, refining study design and survey instruments
• Managing field teams: Recruit, train, and supervise both field-based and data operations teams consisting of project assistants, field managers, field-based surveyors and other field and office staff, along with training and supervising call center agents and monitors, who make outbound calls on a high frequency basis.
• Oversee the implementation of the evaluation following the research design in association with our partner organization
• Supervise data collection and data entry and ensure good quality of the data at each of these two stages 
• Assist in preparation of documents and presentations for dissemination
• Work on any other tasks assigned by the Research Manager or the Principal Investigators
• Report to the Research Manager on all of the activities mentioned above 

Desired Qualifications and Experience:

• Strong proficiency in R is essential (with past experience in using Shiny preferred), along with the ability to write, run and troubleshoot complex pieces of code in a short chunk of time
• Knowledge of STATA
• Master’s degree in Economics is strongly preferred
• Past experience in analyzing data from an RCT, along with data visualization skills
• Familiarity with GitHub, Matlab and Python a plus
• Fluency and excellent communication skills in English and Hindi. Familiarity with Odia will be great, but not necessary
• Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player
• Familiarity with impact evaluations and randomized controlled trials
• Ability to give and receive completely frank feedback
• Willingness to live in rural or peri-urban areas and travel extensively to study areas is essential
• Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player
• Ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations 

We are looking for a commitment period of 12 months for this position. 

Note on Work Authorizations:

Candidates must have work authorization to work in India. This covers citizens of India, Nepal or Bhutan, Persons of Indian origin (PIO), and an Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).