Research Associates @ Center for the Advanced Study of India (University of Pennsylvania)

Location: State and District-level field sites and Delhi
Duration: 1 year (July 2018 – June 2019)
Application deadline: 15.03.2018

CASI Indian Agricultural Markets Project
The Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) has launched a major new research project to examine the impact of agricultural markets on the incomes of small and marginal farmer households across four Indian states – Bihar, Odisha, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), our research will identify obstacles in the structure and functioning of markets and other factors that impede an increase in farmers’ incomes. This multi-sited, multi-commodity, and multi-disciplinary study will combine rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods to study markets in all their institutional diversity and complexity and generate policy options, regulatory and institutional designs, and practical strategies to improve access to and the performance of agricultural markets and supply and value chains for India’s farmers.The Project Director is Professor Devesh Kapur (CASI Director) and Co-Director is CASI Senior Fellow, Marshall Bouton. The Co-Principal Investigators are Dr. Mekhala
Krishnamurthy (Anthropologist, Shiv Nadar University) and Shoumitro Chatterjee (Economist, Princeton University).

The Position
We are looking to hire up to eight Research Associates, who will be part of state teams and lead the research in market sites, villages and commodity chains in the chosen districts. Research Associates will spend extensive time in the field and work between districts and state capitals and in close coordination with the Co-PIs and the project team in Delhi and Philadelphia. Their work will involve regular interactions with field-based partner organizations and government officials at different levels.

Primary responsibilities

• Fieldwork and data collection (quantitative and qualitative): households, villages, mandis, and supply chains
• Data compilation and developing reports
• Adherence to data quality protocols
• Maintaining relationships with key stakeholders at the field level
• Coordinating with the Principal Investigators and members of the larger research team

We are looking for

• Young scholars with Masters degrees or advanced undergraduate degrees with deep interests in and commitment to field-based research on Indian political economy, with a special interest in agriculture, trade and development
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English; adequate fluency in Hindi or the regional languages of project states
• Training in research methods and prior experience in conducting qualitative or quantitative research would be an advantage but is not essential
• Willingness to travel frequently and be based in field locations for substantial periods of time
• Flexible, independent, self-motivated individuals, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, work under pressure

We offer a competitive salary and an encouraging and inspiring work environment with the opportunity to gain intensive field experience, multi-disciplinary research training and mentorship, first-hand policy experience, and the potential to collaborate on research and policy papers and publications.

How to apply
Interested candidates may send their CVs and a short Statement of Purpose to: mekhala.krishnamurthy@gmail.com
The last date to send in applications is 15 March 2018.