Senior Research Associate J-PAL LAC

About J-PAL

J-PAL LAC is a non-profit research center that aims to reduce global poverty by generating rigorous scientific evidence on which social programs and policies can make a real difference in people's lives. Formed by a network of more than 750 academics worldwide, J-PAL measures the impact of programs with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and uses these results to influence the design of public policies. The J-PAL network has conducted over 1,700 evaluations in over 90 countries, organized in 12 sectors. In Latin America, we currently count on 174 studies. As of 2023, J-PAL LAC is supporting 25 evaluations in 6 countries.

J-PAL organizes its work into three main areas:

Research: We partner with donors to create initiatives that fund research. We also implement RCT from data collection to data analysis.

Public policy: we summarize the results of the investigation, create alliances, and provide technical assistance to governments.

Training: We lead the executive training and develop a rigorous online education to build regional knowledge.

The local grounding of J-PAL is essential for its success. The seven regional J-PAL offices are located at leading universities on five continents. In the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, J-PAL LAC is headquartered at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile). J-PAL LAC also has a Memoranda of Understanding with Insper for work in Brazil, the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala for work in Central America, and ITAM for work in Mexico.

In 2019, J-PAL founders Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee won the Nobel Prize in Economics "for their experimental approach to alleviating poverty."

OUR OFFICE

J-PAL LAC is based at UC Chile in Santiago, where most of our staff is located. We also have a team in São Paulo, based at Insper, and project staff in several LAC countries. Our team comprises about 15 permanent staff members and 20 staff hired for specific projects, typically on shorter-term contracts. We are currently running 25 projects in 6 LAC countries. 

We strive for a collegiate, horizontal, and amicable culture where peers can learn from each other and are not afraid to innovate. The office is led by Executive Director Paula Pedro, originally from Brazil, and Deputy Executive Director Claudia Macías, originally from Mexico. Paula leads the office’s overall strategy and fundraising and has a more external-facing role. Claudia oversees our operations and develops strategic partnerships, especially with Governments. 

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential to address poverty's complex causes and consequences. To advance our mission, J-PAL LAC must draw on diverse experiences from our staff and affiliated researchers to ask better questions and identify better solutions. We are working to increase the limited representation of individuals from underrepresented economic backgrounds. We are committed to self-reflection, learning, and dialogue to nurture understanding across differences. Together, we will build an equitable, inclusive culture where everyone is respected, empowered, and heard.

About the team, project, or initiative you would be working with:

The main objective of the research project is to understand how obstacles to accessing information about suppliers and buyers affect the growth of small and medium-sized businesses. As part of the project, the research team will conduct an experiment in which Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) supplying goods and services in the mining sector will be given subsidies to attend a trade fair in April 2025. To understand the process of firm-to-firm linkage creation, the team will conduct in-person surveys during the trade fair. Finally, to measure the effects of the experiment after the fair, we will use administrative data from the Central Bank of Chile will be used, as well as surveys conducted by telephone and in-person.

The SRA will be working closely with the PI team -- Jie Bai (Harvard), Lauren Bergquist (Yale), Federico Huneeus (Duke) Nicolas Jimenez (Yale), and Yuhei Miyauchi (Boston University) -- throughout the project. The SRA will also interact with external partners, including private companies and nonprofits, during the course of the project. 

Summary of the Role:

The primary purpose of the role of the SRA is to coordinate the implementation of the experimental intervention, namely recruiting companies to the experiment, conduct regular meetings with the partner organizations, and to conduct firm surveys and data collection during and after the trade fair. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to

The main responsibilities and daily duties of this position include:

- Coordinating the recruitment of firms -- small and medium enterprises that supply goods and services in the mining sector -- for the experimental intervention. This includes: coordinating call centers for firm outreach, directly communicating with recruited firms, and managing firm contracts and payments required for fair attendance.

- Programming surveys in SurveyCTO for in-person data collection at the fair

- Hiring, training, and monitoring a team of enumerators for in-person data collection at the fair

- Basic data cleaning and analysis in preparation for the experimental intervention

- Support with miscellaneous tasks with partner organizations related to the preparation of the experimental intervention

Qualifications:

Education: A master's or doctoral degree in economics, political science, public policy, or a related field.

Languages: This job is based in Chile, so full proficiency in Spanish is a must. Advanced English is needed as you also interact frequently with the research team.

Experience: At least two years of professional experience. 

Technical Skills:

Statistical Packages: 

Stata or R - Intermediate

SurveyCTO - Intermediate

Other: Knowledge of impact evaluation methodologies: Intermediate

Work permissions:

This position is open to citizens or foreigners with visas and/or valid work permits in Chile at the time of applying for this vacancy.

Location

Availability to travel to do in-person recruiting and interaction with firms.

Availability to attend trade fair April 22-25, 2025 in Santiago, Chile.

This is a full-time position with a duration of four months starting from the agreed start date