Research Associate

About The Trust and Development Innovation Lab - India

The University of Chicago Trust, established in India in 2008 by an alumnus, is a charitable organization focused on supporting educational and research programs that contribute to India's advancement. Operating under this umbrella, the Development Innovation Lab - India (DIL-India) leverages economic research to impact sectors like education, health, agriculture, climate change, and road safety. Partnering with government and non-profit entities, DIL-India develops evidence-based solutions that are scalable and policy-relevant.

Current initiatives include collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti to test safe water solutions that could potentially save up to 136,000 children's lives annually, evaluating personalized adaptive learning with the Government of Andhra Pradesh in secondary education, and enhancing AI-driven monsoon forecasts to support millions of farmers via the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Role Overview

We are seeking a full-time Research Associate to join DIL-India. This position involves working closely with Principal Investigators, including Nobel laureate Professor Michael Kremer, to co-lead research design, implementation, and analysis across projects in development economics. Early responsibilities focus on supporting field research in Telangana on weather forecasting, heat-risk, farmer decision-making, and qualitative studies on numeracy and probability training.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in designing and executing research experiments under PI's guidance
• Develop and refine data collection tools and monitoring protocols consistent with research objectives
• Lead fieldwork activities and supervise research support staff
• Perform coding and analyze high-frequency field data
• Manage collaborations with partner organizations
• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews
• Contribute to drafting policy notes, technical documents, and scholarly papers that communicate findings
• Present research outcomes internally and at academic conferences
• Support database construction and maintain organizational research infrastructure
• Carry out additional tasks as assigned by the PI or management

Candidate Profile and Requirements

• Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Environmental Policy, Engineering, Science, or related field; candidates with a bachelor’s plus at least one year of relevant experience will also be considered
• At least one year combined experience in graduate education and/or research work
• Strong grasp of scientific research methodologies and advanced data analysis techniques
• Proven ability to independently manage aspects of field research projects including design, data handling, and analysis is advantageous
• Excellent organization and management competencies paired with quantitative skills
• Self-driven, adaptable, multitasking, and collaborative
• Outstanding verbal, written, and interpersonal communication abilities
• Expertise in data cleaning and analysis; proficiency with Stata or R is required; familiarity with Survey CTO preferred
• High motivation for work in the development sector
• Fluent in English and Hindi; spoken Telugu proficiency preferred for roles based in Bhubhaneshwar and Vijayawada
• Understanding of impact evaluations, especially randomized controlled trials, is preferred

Working Conditions and Additional Details

• Positions located in Hyderabad, Delhi, or other project locations
• Extensive travel across India may be required depending on project needs
• Possible travel to the United States
• Candidates must have legal authorization to work in India
• This appointment is for one year with the possibility of extension

Application Process

• Applicants should submit a Resume/CV, Cover Letter, and contact information for three references
• The expected commencement is around July 2026
• Screening will continue until the position is filled; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Contact Information

The University of Chicago Trust, 11 First Floor, Global Tech Park, O’Shaughnessy Road, Langford Town, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560025, India