Recognition: J-Stars
The J-Stars award acknowledges the extraordinary efforts made by our staff worldwide who work toward fulfilling the mission of J-PAL. These recipients demonstrate values such as hard work, innovation, teamwork, collegiality, and exceptional technical skills. We have 3 award categories.
Innovative Solutions Award
This award is for teams and/or individuals who:
- Creates new and sometimes unexpected solutions in a face of a specific challenge and/or that are in the best interests of J-PAL, e.g. developed solutions to effectively work together during the pandemic
- Embraces change as an opportunity for growth and innovation
- Takes a future-oriented approach to short and long-term challenges
- Participates in collaborative problem-solving, breaking down boundaries and/or creating new relationships to improve the way work gets done
2024 Winners
Alexandre Grellet (Europe)
Alexandre Grellet is recognized for his significant contributions to the IDEE program by developing innovative tools and trainings that simplify RCT methodologies for researchers and practitioners who are not used to running RCTs, including a power calculator tool.
Jack Cavanagh (Global)
Jack Cavanagh is recognized for his work to incorporate AI into our internal workflows, dramatically increasing efficiency across workstreams, including creating a new J-PAL survey bank, automated publication tracking, scraping information for gender-disaggregated data extraction, and using the Open AI API to develop dozens of other solutions for team members.
Rania Fleifel (Middle East and North Africa)
Rania Fleifel is recognized for her groundbreaking technical solutions, introducing smart and automated solutions for both the research vertical and operational efficiency, including automating audio audits, enhancing data collection, and leading Python workshops to improve research workflow.
Social Champion Award
This award is for teams and/or individuals who:
- Displays behavior and takes actions that help teams step out of work silos
- Initiates forums/activities/gatherings that help J-PAL socialize beyond work
- Promotes an inclusive workplace, e.g. welcomes and integrates new staff members and/or helps us connect with one another
- Appreciates, encourages, and motivates others to be their best at J-PAL
2024 Winners
Jyotsna Kandulna (South Asia)
Jyotsna Kandulna is recognized for her key role in creating, standardizing, and operationalizing HR onboarding and probation processes for new team members, ensuring smooth transitions and a welcoming environment.
Outstanding Contributor: Working Behind the Scenes Award
This award is for teams and/or individuals who:
- Provides consistent excellence; goes above and beyond without fanfare
- Fills in when and wherever needed and always performs at a high level
- Takes initiative to solve problems and improve work situations without being prompted
- Demonstrates reliability, perseverance and a focus on results
- Helps others by sharing knowledge
2024 Winners
Raquel Caldeira (Africa)
Raquel Caldeira is recognized for her instrumental role in advancing J-PAL's African Scholars Program through her leadership of two key initiatives: DAISI and LAI. She has demonstrated exceptional ownership and initiative that has not only elevated the quality of these programs but also enabled her colleagues to focus on other critical aspects of these initiatives.
Valentina Olivares (Latin America and the Caribbean)
Valentina Olivares is recognized for her significant contributions to the training vertical, including the introduction of a cost estimation calculator for trainings and the enhancement of our course repositories.
Lesley Harkins (North America)
Lesley Harkins is recognized for her efforts to develop innovative systems to keep the broader team organized and efficient, and broadens the scope of her role by taking on new tasks to improve the experience for all stakeholders.
Bhawna Arora (South Asia)
Bhawna Arora is recognized for fostering inclusive culture and community building at J-PAL by maintaining strong connections with alumni and interns, as well as offering invaluable support during major events like the J-PAL@20 celebrations or Annual Staff Retreat, and throughout strategic fundraising projects.
Restu Fitri Ariani (Southeast Asia)
Restu Fitri Ariani is recognized as the driving force that keeps J-PAL SEA projects and the onboarding process running smoothly, thanks to her exceptional event management skills, professionalism, and endless patience. She played a pivotal role in the success of the South-South Learning event connecting the governments of Egypt and Indonesia, ESP training, and J-PAL SEA staff onboarding.
Sara Merner (Europe)
Sara Merner is recognized for her efforts in establishing J-PAL's humanitarian work through her management of the Displaced Livelihoods Initiative and the Humanitarian Protection Initiative, along with the organization of three humanitarian research incubators in Colombia, Egypt, and Kenya.