Research Associate - Safe Drinking Water - J-PAL South Asia

About J-PAL South Asia:

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) J-PAL was established in 2003 as a research center at the Economics Department at MIT. Since then, it has grown into a global network of researchers who use randomized evaluations to answer critical policy questions in the fight against poverty. J-PAL is propelled by a first-rate team dedicated to research, policy, training, and other vital work, supporting J-PAL's mission to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence.

J-PAL South Asia, based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) in Chennai, leads J-PAL’s efforts to advance evidence-informed policymaking in the region. By conducting rigorous randomized evaluations, forging impactful strategic partnerships, and scaling effective programs, we strive to deliver better evidence to help governments design better policies so people can live better lives. Established in 2007, J-PAL South Asia is the oldest and the largest among all J-PAL offices. We have 255 ongoing and completed evaluations in the South Asia region across 11 sectors to date. We have a growing number of partnerships in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Project Description:

The research team plans to conduct a study in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to evaluate community perceptions of chlorinated drinking water through taste test experiments to optimize water treatment practices. This study follows efforts by the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Jeevan Mission to provide drinking water tap connections to every rural household by 2028. As part of these efforts, the Jal Jeevan Mission has recently approved the use of a drinking water treatment method called in-line chlorination to provide safe water to rural communities. Members of this research team recently conducted an RCT of in-line chlorination in drinking water schemes in Odisha, finding that it could effectively reduce E. coli contamination at tap connections by 70%. However, further research is needed to understand how in-line chlorination can be optimized for chlorinated water taste preferences across India. This research directly supports the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide safe drinking water tap connections to all rural households in India by 2028.

The planned study will evaluate taste detection and acceptability thresholds for chlorinated water among villages in Rayagada, Odisha, and Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. To evaluate this, the team will conduct a series of blinded taste tests with unchlorinated and chlorinated water samples of varying concentrations to determine levels at which participants can correctly identify chlorinated water samples and their rating of the taste/preferences. This research will directly inform future water chlorination projects by setting chlorine concentrations at levels that are preferred by communities while providing effective disinfection.

The candidate will work closely with a multidisciplinary research team from Community Welfare Society Hospital Rourkela (Dr. Praveen Sahu), University of Michigan School of Public Health (Dr. Elisa Maffioli), and University of California Berkeley Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Dr. Amy Pickering). The candidate will contribute to study design and methods and lead data collection in each study site alongside the research team.

About the Role:

J-PAL South Asia is inviting expressions of interest for upcoming Research Associate (RA) positions across a variety of sectors and geographies. RAs at J-PAL play a central role in managing the implementation of randomized evaluations, working closely with researchers from leading Universities around the world, ensuring that each evaluation is designed and implemented with precision and rigor.

Key Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of a Research Associate typically include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting researchers in developing and refining study protocols through in-field scoping activities. You will provide contextual and operational insights to help researchers shape experimental protocols that are methodologically rigorous and feasible within the study setting.
• Strengthening measurement validity and reliability by assisting in the development and piloting of survey instruments. You will be responsible for organizing field tests, analyzing pilot data, and integrating structured feedback loops to improve the precision and accuracy of indicators.
• Enable accurate and efficient data capture through the programming of digital surveys and development of end-to-end data workflows. This includes incorporating survey logic, real-time checks, and secure data transmission to ensure clean, analysis-ready datasets.
• Ensuring collection of high-quality primary data—recruiting, training, and managing field teams to collect data that meets rigorous research standards.
• Safeguarding data integrity in consultation with the research team by setting up and maintaining systems for real-time quality monitoring. You will identify issues in incoming data, identify solutions in collaboration with the researchers, and implement corrective measures.
• Preparing analysis-ready datasets by writing reproducible code (in Stata, R, or Python), generating summary statistics, and contributing to the analytical preparation for publications, working closely with researchers.
• Facilitating alignment between research teams and implementation partners to ensure that project implementation aligns with study protocols. You will coordinate timelines, share updates across teams, and help troubleshoot day-to-day challenges while maintaining strong working relationships with external stakeholders.
• Ensuring transparency and reproducibility by developing and maintaining detailed documentation, including codebooks, field protocols, and project logs that align with academic standards and support eventual replication and publication.
• Maintaining strict adherence to J-PAL’s research protocols throughout all stages of the research lifecycle.

What We’re Looking For:

• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing operational and analytical challenges
• Ability to manage day-to-day work with minimal supervision
• Excellent time management and attention to detail
• Ability to navigate fast-evolving settings that require flexibility and initiative
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for diverse audiences

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• A Bachelor's/Master’s degree in economics, sociology, social sciences, public policy, public health or related fields. Other technical degrees with focus on engineering, water supply and treatment, or civil engineering will also be considered.
• Sound understanding of impact evaluation methods, especially randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical tools such as R (preferred) or Stata.
• Experience with digital data collection platforms such as SurveyCTO (preferred) or Qualtrics.
• Fluency in English and Hindi; proficiency in one or more regional languages (Odia or Telugu) is a strong asset
• Willingness to travel extensively and stay in field locations. This is a multi-site study requiring extensive travel to Rayagada, Odisha, and Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
• Experience working with external stakeholders such as government departments or NGOs is a plus .

Note on Work Authorizations:

Candidates must have work authorization to work in India.

Length of Commitment:

Full-time, 9-month position with possible extension