Research Project Coordinator, Global Poverty Research Lab

Department: Kellogg GPRL
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Job Summary:

The Global Poverty Research Lab (GPRL) is a research center based at Northwestern University that generates empirical evidence on the effectiveness of policies and programs in more than 10 countries in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, China, and Southeast Asia. Our projects examine the interaction between poverty and topics such as finance, entrepreneurship, education, gender, psychological well-being, agriculture, and the environment.

We believe we can produce more and better research by creating a common infrastructure whether geographic or thematic, upon which to engage in research and policy work. Geographic research clusters in Ghana and the Philippines collect long-term panel data on economic and social outcomes. The China research cluster aims to promote rigorous empirical research on the Chinese economy. Our researchers also work to improve research methodologies for using survey data, machine learning, and meta-analysis in the context of international development through the Research Methods Initiative, in collaboration with Innovations for Poverty Action. The Lab's newly launched Evidence to Policy Research Initiative (EPRI) is a multidisciplinary working group of Northwestern faculty who work on policy related research to understand barriers to evidence adoption in policymaking more broadly.

GPRL is hiring a full-time research analyst to work directly support the Principal Investigators (PIs) Professor Dean Karlan and Professor Christopher Udry on projects related to social protection, cognitive behavioral therapy, rainfall insurance and agricultural extension services, the role of social networks in the labor market, and women's mobility, to name a few. This position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand experience, working alongside Professors Karlan and Udry, with a mix of designing studies, managing and analyzing data from a range of sources, and supporting with project management and communications.

Please note: Supervisor provides objectives, deadlines and specific instructions only for new, difficult, and/or unusual work. Work is reviewed upon completion and only occasionally to verify technical accuracy and compliance with practice, policy, and procedures. EE informs supervisor of on-going progress and/or potentially controversial matters.

Specific Responsibilities :

Administration

• Assists PIs and Research Managers with project development and dissemination of tasks including but not limited to:
• Planning and executing project scoping activities, including procuring publicly available data and communicating with potential research collaborators.
• Developing analysis plans that detail the statistical and analytical techniques to be used to answer the study's research questions.
• Submitting applications and modifications to the Institutional Review Board.
• Cultivating a relationship with implementing partners, including extensive non-technical communication about study design.
• Supporting research design tasks like power calculations, sampling, and randomization.
• Assisting in writing grant proposals and reports.
• Supporting the development of presentations to communicate study results to academic and lay audiences.
• Presents analysis to PIs, including communicating and setting meeting agendas and incorporating feedback from these discussions into subsequent analysis.
• Ensures that information is entered correctly into databases.
• Assists PIs in reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, formatting, editing, & preparing tables, charts, graphs, progress & final reports, etc.
• Drafting reports and preparing tables and figures with empirical results for publications and presentations and assisting with paper revisions.
• Coordinates between sponsoring agencies, collaborating organizations &/or other research &/or educational institutions.
• Ensures that all study documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols are completed in a timely manner.
• Conducts literature reviews for analysis plans, working papers, and grant proposals, using an organized approach that takes account of results, analytical methods, and intervention design.

Technical

• Coordinates processing & analysis of data, conduct of experimental tests & procedures.
• Conducts analysis using advanced statistical and econometric tools and seeking out the resources to learn new analytical techniques as needed.
• Develops new &/or revised research methodologies.
• Ensures completion of study activities per protocol including recruitment.

Supervision

• Participate in the recruitment process for Research Analysts (RAs), including conducting interviews and reviewing coding tests.
• Supervising undergraduate Research Analysts (RAs) as needed, including managing workload, allocating tasks, and proactively communicating expectations.
• Supporting research staff with Lab-wide management tasks including mentoring new RAs and creating research and training resources.
• Trains and mentors new RAs, including onboarding on topics like Advanced Stata and Project Management.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in economics or another quantitative major.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong quantitative skills (courework in econometrics and statistics)
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials
• Excellent organizations skills
• Fluency and excellent communication skills in English
• Ability to seek resources and self-teach new statistical, analytical, and programming techniques
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience living and/or working in a developing country

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Enthusiasm for empirical research
• Familiarity with other statistical, visualization or digital data collection software like R/ArcGIS/Python/SurveyCTO is a strong plus

Target hiring range for this position will be between $55,000 - $58,500 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more .

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