How to apply for Senior Nutrition Researcher

About GiveWell

GiveWell is a nonprofit that researches and recommends the most cost-effective global health and development charities. It directed over $400 million in 2025 and expects to approach or exceed $1 billion in grantmaking this year. The role offers direct influence over how tens of millions of dollars are allocated to nutrition programs.

About the role

The Senior Nutrition Researcher will lead research across three nutrition sub-portfolios: Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS), iron supplementation (including iron and folic acid supplementation and large-scale food fortification), and treatment of acute malnutrition (CMAM/wasting treatment). In 2025, GiveWell directed $95 million to implementers in these areas, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. This role directly shapes funding decisions that affect global health outcomes.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing new evidence on iron fortification, modeling cost-effectiveness for a potential grant in Sub-Saharan Africa, and writing a memo to recommend a funding decision. You would also meet with implementers, other researchers, and GiveWell staff to discuss uncertainties and priorities. The role is remote, so much of the work is independent and written.

Who GiveWell is looking for

• Has deep expertise in nutrition science, global health, or development economics, with a focus on cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Can critically evaluate evidence from randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and program evaluations.
• Has experience conducting quantitative research, modeling, or cost-effectiveness analysis in a nonprofit, research, or academic setting.
• Is comfortable working remotely and collaborating with a distributed team to influence high-stakes funding decisions.

Tips for this application

• Read GiveWell's published research on VAS, iron supplementation, and CMAM to understand their current criteria and uncertainties.
• Quantify your past impact: show how your research or analysis changed a funding decision, program design, or policy.
• Explain why you want to work at GiveWell specifically, not just in global health. Reference their cost-effectiveness approach and public research.
• Address the remote nature of the role. Describe how you manage independent research and collaborate across time zones.
• If you have experience in Sub-Saharan Africa or with large-scale nutrition programs, highlight it. GiveWell's portfolio is concentrated there.

What to cover in your cover letter

Focus on your ability to assess and synthesize evidence on nutrition interventions. Explain how you would prioritize research questions across VAS, iron, and CMAM. Show you understand GiveWell's cost-effectiveness framework and can communicate uncertainty. Describe your experience influencing funding or program decisions with research.

Research before applying

• Review GiveWell's nutrition grantmaking history and their published cost-effectiveness analyses for VAS, iron, and CMAM.
• Read GiveWell's annual metrics reports and their list of top charities to understand their funding priorities.
• Understand the difference between GiveWell's research and that of other global health funders like the Gates Foundation or USAID.
• Look into the evidence base for each sub-portfolio: Cochrane reviews, Lancet series, and recent trials on nutrition interventions.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Vitamin A Supplementation versus iron fortification in a specific country?
• Walk us through a time you changed a funding or program decision based on your research. What evidence did you use?
• What are the key uncertainties in the evidence base for CMAM/wasting treatment, and how would you address them?
• How do you handle conflicting evidence from different studies or contexts? Give an example.
• Why GiveWell? How does our approach to global health differ from other funders or research organizations?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that does not mention GiveWell's specific nutrition portfolios or cost-effectiveness approach.
• Focusing only on academic research without showing how it translates into funding or program decisions.
• Ignoring the remote aspect or failing to demonstrate ability to work independently and communicate clearly in writing.