Research Associate

Lahore University of Management Sciences; Peshawar City Tehsil; On-site; PKR 558,000 - 781,200; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization is seeking a motivated Research Associate to support a project aiming to improve tax compliance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The role involves data cleaning, analysis, and collaboration with field teams and government officials. Ideal candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree, have strong organizational skills, and be eager to learn. Fluency in English and Urdu is required, with knowledge of Pashto as a plus. This position offers a full-time contract and requires potential travel in KP.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience in data cleaning, analysis, and management of large datasets.
• Willingness to travel within KP for short field visits.
• Knowledge of Pashto is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist in obtaining, cleaning, and organizing administrative and survey data.
• Help design and test data collection tools.
• Support coordination with government officials and field teams.
• Monitor field activities and communicate with data collection teams.
• Conduct background research and literature reviews.
• Help prepare meeting notes and project documentation.
• Support data entry, analysis, and visualization tasks.
• Assist in organizing trainings and stakeholder consultations.

Skills

Data cleaning

Data analysis

Statistical tools (e.g., Stata, R, Python)

Organizational skills

Fluency in English

Fluency in Urdu

Interest in public policy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Data Science, or related field

Tools

Stata

R

Python

Job description

Project: Improving Tax Compliance through a Reward Scheme – KPRA
Location: Peshawar (flexible), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (with potential field visits)
Position Type: Full-Time
Reporting To: Project Manager/ Principal Investigators
Duration: 12 months
Application Deadline:Rolling Basis
Start Date: As soon as possible.

Project Overview

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA), in collaboration with Dr. Sher Afghan Asad (LUMS) and Dr. Isabelle Cohen (University of Washington), is implementing a reward scheme designed to improve tax compliance in KP. The project includes an experimental evaluation (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of providing incentives to citizens for reporting tax fraud and non-compliance.

Position Summary

The Research Associate will support day-to-day project implementation by assisting with data-related tasks, field coordination, and logistical support for stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, eager to learn, and has foundational experience in research or data analysis. This role is well-suited for a recent graduate looking to build a career in applied research or public policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in obtaining, cleaning, and organizing administrative and survey data.
• Help with the design and testing of data collection tools (questionnaires, forms, etc.).
• Support coordination with government officials, field teams, and IT vendors.
• Monitor field activities and maintain regular communication with data collection teams.
• Conduct background research and literature reviews as needed.
• Help prepare meeting notes, project documentation, and summary reports.
• Support data entry, basic analysis, and visualization tasks.
• Assist in organizing trainings, workshops, and stakeholder consultations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Data Science, or a related field.
• At least 2-3 year of experience in data cleaning, analysis, and management of large datasets.
• Proficiency in at least one statistical tool (e.g., Stata, R, or Python).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working with public sector partners and in collaborative teams.
• Willingness to travel within KP for short field visits.
• Fluency in English and Urdu is required; knowledge of Pashto is a plus.
• A strong interest in public policy, governance, or development research.

Application Instructions

Please send your CV along with a brief cover letter.