Inclusion Economics India Centre at IFMR Seeks a Research Associate in Gender and Labour Economics @IFMR Seeks a Research Associate in Gender and Labour Economics

The Inclusion Economics India Centre (IEIC) at IFMR, affiliated with Inclusion Economics at Yale University, is seeking applications for the position of Research Associate (Gender Portfolio). Based in Bhopal, India, the role offers an exciting opportunity for aspiring researchers to contribute to a large-scale policy research initiative focused on women’s economic empowerment and labor market participation.

The position is designed for candidates interested in applied economics research, public policy, and evidence-based development interventions. Successful applicants will work directly with leading academics, policymakers, and development practitioners on a multi-year research program with significant policy implications.

About the Research Project

The Research Associate will support an ambitious collaboration involving the Government of Madhya Pradesh and PRADAN. The project seeks to understand the broader economic and social impacts of increasing women’s control over their earnings under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The research aims to examine how enhanced financial autonomy for women influences:

• Labor force participation
• Wage dynamics
• Local market prices
• Gender norms and attitudes toward women’s work
• Household decision-making
• Broader economic outcomes within communities

By generating rigorous evidence, the project seeks to inform policy decisions that strengthen women’s economic inclusion and improve development outcomes.

Position Overview

The Research Associate will work closely with Research Managers and Principal Investigators to support all aspects of project implementation, data management, analysis, and policy engagement.

The role requires a highly motivated individual capable of managing multiple responsibilities while collaborating with researchers, field teams, government agencies, and implementing partners.

The initial commitment period is expected to be between one and two years, with an immediate start date preferred.

Key Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be involved in a broad range of research and operational activities, including:

Research Implementation

• Leading day-to-day implementation of primary research activities
• Supporting project scoping and survey implementation
• Managing field personnel and field operations
• Monitoring project progress and reporting outcomes
• Identifying and mitigating risks to research design

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborating with government officials and implementing partners
• Ensuring intervention designs align with research objectives
• Supporting evidence-based policymaking within government departments
• Serving as an embedded fellow to facilitate policy adoption and implementation

Data Management and Analysis

• Collecting administrative data from government agencies and policy partners
• Cleaning, processing, and analyzing quantitative datasets
• Managing multiple primary and secondary data sources
• Conducting statistical analysis to support research objectives

Research and Knowledge Development

• Reviewing academic literature on relevant topics
• Supporting the preparation of policy briefs and research reports
• Contributing to case studies and evidence products
• Assisting in the dissemination of research findings

Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Supporting adherence to Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements
• Ensuring compliance with research ethics and field safety protocols
• Maintaining high standards of data quality and research integrity

Required Qualifications

Candidates should possess a strong academic background and demonstrate an interest in economics, public policy, and development research.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Environmental Studies, or a related discipline
• Fluency in both English and Hindi
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience or demonstrated potential in primary data collection
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Working knowledge of Stata
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
• Ability to work independently in rural field settings
• Strong teamwork and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

Additional qualifications that will strengthen an application include:

• Master’s degree or higher in Economics or a related field
• Familiarity with MGNREGS and State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) programs
• Experience engaging with government and policy stakeholders
• Experience managing and analyzing large datasets
• Proficiency in SurveyCTO or Open Data Kit (ODK)
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments

Opportunity to Work with Leading Researchers

The position provides direct exposure to internationally recognized scholars and researchers in development economics.

Principal Investigators involved in the project include:

• Rohini Pande – Yale University and Inclusion Economics
• Simone Schaner – University of Southern California
• Charity Troyer Moore – Ohio State University
• Erica Field – Duke University
• Lisa Ho – Columbia University
• Urmi Bhattacharya – Inclusion Economics India Centre

Working alongside these experts offers valuable experience for individuals considering future careers in academic research, policy analysis, international development, or graduate studies.

Application Process

Interested candidates must complete the organization’s Screening Questionnaire and upload a single PDF document containing:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover Letter
• Academic Transcripts

Applicants should label the file using the following format:

“Last Name, First Name – Research Associate_Bhopal”

Candidates are encouraged to submit complete and accurate documentation to facilitate the review process.

About Inclusion Economics India Centre

The Inclusion Economics India Centre is affiliated with Inclusion Economics at Yale University and operates through the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) Society.

The organization’s mission is to promote:

• Economic justice
• Social opportunity
• Environmental sustainability
• Evidence-based policymaking
• Data-informed governance

Its research portfolio spans several key areas, including:

• Gender and economic empowerment
• Labor economics
• Political economy and governance
• Climate and environmental economics
• Public sector data literacy and evidence use

The organization works closely with policymakers throughout the research process to ensure findings contribute directly to real-world decision-making.

Career Development Opportunity

For individuals seeking a career in applied economics, policy research, or international development, this Research Associate position provides an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on experience in field research, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based policymaking.

By contributing to one of India’s significant gender and labor market research initiatives, the successful candidate will play an important role in generating evidence that informs inclusive economic policies and strengthens women’s participation in the workforce.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel

Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW