Research Associate – Inclusion Economics India Centre

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab; Delhi; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab is seeking a Research Associate for its Inclusion Economics India Centre in Delhi. The role involves managing CATI phone surveys to gather data on educational and career outcomes among secondary school students.

The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a relevant field, be fluent in English and Hindi, and have strong analytical skills. This position offers an excellent opportunity to engage in impactful policy research.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's in relevant fields.
• Fluent in English and Hindi.
• Experience in quantitative research projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage phone surveys using SurveyCTO.
• Monitor survey progress and quality checks.
• Assist in training enumerators.

Skills

Fluency in English

Fluency in Hindi

Analytical skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Experience with SurveyCTO

Education

Bachelor's/Master’s degree in economics, social sciences, political science, public policy

Tools

Stata

Job description

Research Associate – Inclusion Economics India Centre

Drawing upon economics, political science, and related fields, we conduct cutting‑edge research to understand how policy can promote inclusive, accountable economies and societies. Our core research focuses on gender as it relates to labour economics and broader economic empowerment; political economy and governance; and environmental economics. We also aim to build a culture of evidence and increase data literacy in the public sector, strengthening leaders’ ability to identify and implement evidence‑informed policies. Throughout the research life cycle, we engage closely with policy counterparts to ensure we address questions of immediate relevance, and we regularly communicate data‑driven insights with policy counterparts and the general public.

This project is part of an ongoing research study evaluating the impact of a school‑based Career Exploration Program (CEP) on educational and career choices among secondary school students in urban India. The original study covered more than 6,000 Grade 12 students, primarily young women from low‑income households attending non‑fee‑paying schools, and examined how career guidance influences aspirations, skill‑building decisions, and transitions into higher education and employment. You can find the two already published papers here (open access):

The current phase of the project involves another follow‑up phone survey approximately three years after the intervention. The survey will be implemented using Computer‑Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) on SurveyCTO and will collect information on students’ education, training, employment, household responsibilities, career aspirations, and life transitions after secondary school.

The Role:

We are hiring a Research Associate to support field‑based research in Delhi, India. It is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in a career in policy‑engaged research, whether in a university or a research/policy think tank. This position requires a self‑starting candidate who enjoys working on cutting‑edge research that informs policy. The candidate will have a unique opportunity to drive efforts to ensure that government policy priorities inform the research agenda and vice versa.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the implementation of CATI‑based phone surveys using SurveyCTO.
• Monitor survey progress, respondent tracking, high‑frequency data quality checks and daily fieldwork operations.
• Assist with enumerator training, survey testing, and troubleshooting during fieldwork.
• Maintain organised documentation of survey protocols, call records, and research activities.
• Contribute to preliminary data cleaning, analysis, and reporting tasks as needed.
• Support the preparation of research and policy‑oriented output.
• Interact and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders.
• Join calls weekly to update PIs and other team members on the progress of the project - sometimes during non‑business hours to accommodate various time zones.
• Others, as required.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's/Master’s degree in economics, social sciences, political science, public policy, or related fields.
• Fluency and excellent communication skills (verbal and written) in English and Hindi.
• Strong potential/familiarity in setting up primary data collection using SurveyCTO.
• Experience working on quantitative research projects, especially phone surveys or CATI operations, is strongly preferred.
• Proven analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Stata.
• Data collection experience is a plus.
• Interest in public policy and economic development in low‑income countries.
• Mature, self‑directed individual with ability to balance multiple tasks and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines in a fast‑paced working environment.
• Prior experience supervising or coordinating enumerators is an advantage.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this position, please fill out our Screening Questionnaire ; you will be asked to upload a single PDF containing your CV, cover letter, and academic transcripts. Label your file “Last name, First name – Research Associate, New Delhi”.

To view other open positions, visit the Inclusion Economics Opportunities page . We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, particularly women, people of color and other marginalized communities which have historically been underrepresented in the field of economics.