Research Intern

Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 279,000 - 391,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend

Job summary

IDRAC in Islamabad is seeking a proactive Research Intern to support its research team across data collection, literature reviews, fieldwork, and report drafting. The role offers hands-on experience in applied social science research and collaboration with the Executive Director/Research Manager.

The position involves developing data collection tools, conducting data cleaning and analysis, transcription/translation (Urdu/English), and supporting day-to-day office tasks.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Sociology, Social Science, Development Studies or related field.
• Willingness to travel for field activities.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Responsibilities

• Collect, organize, and analyze quantitative and qualitative research data.
• Assist with fieldwork, including participant recruitment and note-taking.
• Transcribe and translate documents between English and Urdu as required.
• Draft and edit research reports, briefs, and presentations.
• Maintain organized records and assist in preparing materials for meetings.

Job description

The Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC) is an Islamabad based research organization dedicated to advancing knowledge in Human Rights, Democracy, Education, Health, Governance, and Culture and Language. Drawing on a diverse range of in-house expertise, IDRAC conducts rigorous, evidence-based studies that inform policy and practice in these areas.

Position Overview

IDRAC is seeking a proactive and self-driven Research Intern to support its research team across a range of research-related activities. The role spans the research cycle: designing data collection tools and conducting literature reviews, collecting, cleaning, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and documenting findings in a clear and organized manner. The intern will also assist with fieldwork, transcription and Urdu translation, report drafting, and day-to-day office correspondence, working in close coordination with the Executive Director and/or Research Manager on the completion of research and project tasks, a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in applied social science research.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, organize, and analyze quantitative and qualitative research data in line with research requirements.
• Support the design and administration of data collection tools, such as questionnaires, surveys, and interview/focus group discussion guides.
• Assist with fieldwork, including participant recruitment, scheduling, and note-taking during interviews or focus group discussions.
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesize findings from academic and grey literature relevant to ongoing research.
• Transcribe and translate documents between English and Urdu, as required (translation proficiency is preferred but not mandatory).
• Handle day-to-day correspondence and communication, including letters, emails, and in-person meetings.
• Design appropriate research methodologies as required, in coordination with the research team.
• Document and analyze primary and secondary research data.
• Clean, code, and tabulate collected research data for analysis.
• Conduct web- and library-based research to gather and organize relevant secondary data.
• Develop diagrams, pie charts, graphs, and other illustrations as required.
• Support drafting of research reports, briefs, presentations, and other project deliverables.
• Edit, proofread, and format documents and research reports as required.
• Maintain organized records and archives of research data, tools, and documentation.
• Assist in preparing materials for meetings, workshops, or conferences, including presentations and summaries.
• Undertake any other relevant tasks assigned by the Head of IDRAC, carried out responsibly and diligently.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Sociology, Social Science, Development Studies, Anthropology, Economics, or a related field.
• Willingness to travel for field activities when required.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Knowledge and Skills

• Basic working knowledge of MS Word and MS Excel.
• Working knowledge of SPSS and/or another statistical analysis tool.
• Strong web-based and secondary research skills.

Duty Station

Islamabad, with occasional field travel depending on work requirements.

Women are encouraged to apply. IDRAC is an equal-opportunity employer committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, and welcomes applications from people of all faiths, backgrounds, and orientations. A competitive stipend will be offered in line with qualifications and experience.

Application Deadline: September 20, 2026

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