Research Asssociate - J-PAL LAC

About J-PAL LAC

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 more than 750 academics worldwide, J-PAL measures the impact of programs using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and utilizes these results to inform the design of public policies. The J-PAL network has conducted over 1,700 evaluations in more than 90 countries, organized across 12 sectors. In Latin America, we currently count on 174 studies. As of 2023, J-PAL LAC is supporting 25 evaluations in 6 countries.

J-PAL organizes its work into three main areas:

Research: We partner with donors to create initiatives that fund research. We also implement RCT from data collection to data analysis.

Public policy: we summarize the results of the investigation, create alliances, and provide technical assistance to governments.

Training: We lead the executive training and develop a 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 the case of 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, the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala for work in Central America, and ITAM for work in Mexico.

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, and project staff in several LAC countries. Our team comprises about 15 permanent staff members and 20 staff hired for specific projects, typically on shorter-term contracts. We are currently running 25 projects in 6 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 crucial for addressing the complex causes and consequences of poverty. To advance our mission, J-PAL LAC must draw on the diverse experiences of our staff and affiliated researchers to ask better questions and identify more effective 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 create an equitable and inclusive culture where everyone is respected, empowered, and heard.

About the team, project, or initiative you would be working with

Due to their capacity to reach millions of people, governments are primarily responsible for providing services in most low- and middle-income countries. However, significant gaps in the effectiveness of social spending persist despite increased evidence and data that offer insights into how to fight poverty and gender inequality. Therefore, building a culture of evidence-based decision-making is particularly relevant to improving people’s lives.

As part of a global effort to support governments in laying the groundwork to scale evidence-informed policies and programs, J-PAL LAC aims to help policymakers in Mexico overcome institutional barriers and disincentives to engage meaningfully with evidence and data through the Government Partnership Expansion.

INFONAVIT, the National Workers' Housing Fund Institute, is a Mexican institution that aims to enhance workers' quality of life by providing access to decent housing through quality loans and services. Its mission is to promote the right to housing, while its vision is to become an international benchmark in housing financing. Its objectives include financial viability, transparency, and operational efficiency, benefiting workers and their communities.

Since 2024, J-PAL LAC and INFONAVIT have worked together to identify areas of convergence.

Summary of the role

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

The candidate will support interactions between the Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers (INFONAVIT) and J-PAL's academic network, evaluate potential opportunities to advance the culture of generating and using rigorous evidence within INFONAVIT, and support the development of research projects. The project involves the experimental evaluation of INFONAVIT’s mortgage restructuring program (Solución Integral), aiming to understand how different contract designs and information interventions affect repayment behavior and financial outcomes.

Additionally, the candidate will collaborate with INFONAVIT officials by providing technical advice, building institutional capacity for the generation and use of evidence, and identifying innovative solutions to the daily challenges faced by this organization. 

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Statistics, or a related field. Knowledge of the design and analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) is desirable.
• Languages: This job is based in Mexico, so full proficiency in Spanish is a must. Advanced English is required as you frequently interact with the Global and regional teams. 
• Experience: At least one year of professional experience. 
• Skills:
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to work independently.
  • Prior experience with large administrative data or RCTs is highly desirable.
  • Strong quantitative and programming skills (Stata, R, or Python).

Work permissions

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