Research Assistant

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; Paschim Medinipur; On-site; INR 391,000 - 670,000; Full time

Job summary

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (VGSoM) invites applications for a full-time Research Assistant in Economics to support ongoing empirical research in labour and development economics. The role combines data analysis with primary data collection in the field, and involves field travel.

Ideal candidates will hold a Master’s degree in Economics or related fields, be proficient in Stata, and be willing to undertake field work across rural areas.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics or a closely related field.
• Proficiency in Stata with sound grounding in applied econometrics.
• Willingness to undertake field work and travel.

Responsibilities

• Clean, merge and analyze large survey and administrative datasets in Stata.
• Implement econometric analyses (panel data, IV, difference-in-differences, RCT/impact evaluation methods).
• Design and pilot survey instruments; supervise and conduct field surveys.
• Travel to field sites for data collection, monitoring and stakeholder meetings.
• Conduct literature reviews and assist in drafting research papers, reports and grant proposals.

Skills

Applied econometrics

Field work willingness

Education

Master's degree in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics or a closely related field

Tools

Stata

Job description

Research Assistant (Economics) – Job Description

Position: Research Assistant (RA), full-time Duration: 6 months Location: Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM), IIT Kharagpur, with field travel. Remuneration: competitive and will depend on skills and experience

About the Role

We are looking for a motivated Research Assistant to support ongoing empirical research in labour and development economics. The role combines data analysis with primary data collection in the field, and suits candidates who want serious research experience before starting a PhD.

Key Responsibilities

• Clean, merge and analyze large survey and administrative datasets in Stata
• Implement econometric analyses (panel data, IV, difference-in-differences, RCT/impact evaluation methods).
• Design and pilot survey instruments; supervise and conduct field surveys
• Travel to field sites for data collection, monitoring and stakeholder meetings
• Conduct literature reviews and assist in drafting research papers, reports and grant proposals

Essential Qualifications

• Master's degree in Economics, Econometrics, Statistics or a closely related field (final-semester candidates may apply)
• Proficiency in Stata with sound grounding in applied econometrics
• Willingness to undertake field work and travel, including to rural areas

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in pursuing a PhD in Economics; the position is intended as a pathway, and strong performers will be encouraged to apply to the PhD programme at IIT Kharagpur (admission subject to the institute's regular selection process)
• Prior experience with primary surveys, CAPI tools (SurveyCTO/ODK/KoBo) or large datasets (PLFS, NSS, NFHS, IHDS)
• Proficiency in Bengali or Hindi for field work