Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Research Associate - J-PAL South Asia

at Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)

🏢 About Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)

J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring policy is informed by scientific evidence. J-PAL South Asia, based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research in India, is unique for its rigorous randomized evaluations that directly influence policy decisions in developing countries. Working here offers the chance to contribute to high-impact research that bridges academia and real-world implementation in environmental and development sectors.

About This Role

This Senior Research Associate role focuses on understanding brick sector regulation in West Bengal, specifically examining air quality policies and stakeholder readiness for Zigzag 2.0 technology adoption. The position involves direct engagement with government bodies, kiln owners, and workers to gather qualitative and quantitative data that will inform regulatory approaches and environmental interventions in India's brick industry.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning meetings with West Bengal Pollution Control Board officials to discuss regulatory frameworks, followed by traveling to brick kiln sites to conduct interviews with owners and workers about operational practices. The afternoon could include supervising field teams conducting the kiln owner survey, analyzing preliminary interview data, and preparing stakeholder engagement plans for the following week's research activities.

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🎯 Who Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) Is Looking For

  • Holds a Master's in Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, or Political Science with 2-5 years of experience in environment/development projects, particularly in South Asia
  • Has proven experience conducting qualitative research including key informant interviews with diverse stakeholders (government officials, industry leaders, workers)
  • Demonstrates hands-on experience designing and implementing field surveys, including questionnaire development, pilot testing, and supervising field teams
  • Possesses specific knowledge or experience with air quality regulations, industrial sectors (especially brick/construction), or stakeholder engagement in West Bengal/India

📝 Tips for Applying to Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)

1

Highlight specific experience with West Bengal's regulatory environment or brick/construction sector - even tangential experience should be explicitly connected

2

Quantify your qualitative research experience: mention number of interviews conducted, types of stakeholders engaged, and how findings were used

3

Detail your survey management experience including specific software used (SurveyCTO, ODK), sample sizes managed, and challenges overcome in field supervision

4

Demonstrate understanding of J-PAL's evidence-based approach by referencing specific J-PAL studies or methodology in your application materials

5

Showcase any existing relationships with West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Department of Environment, or brick industry stakeholders

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your direct experience with qualitative research methods (key informant interviews, stakeholder mapping) in development/environment contexts', "Specific knowledge of India's environmental regulations or brick manufacturing sector, with emphasis on West Bengal if possible", 'Experience managing field teams and surveys in challenging environments, highlighting problem-solving in data collection', "Understanding of how this research connects to J-PAL's mission of evidence-based policy change in environmental regulation"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review J-PAL's existing work on environmental regulation in India, particularly the CLEAN-Air Africa initiative and any brick sector studies
  • → Study West Bengal's specific air quality regulations and the structure of the brick industry in the state
  • → Understand Zigzag 2.0 technology and its adoption challenges in South Asia's brick sector
  • → Research J-PAL South Asia's current partnerships with Indian government agencies and NGOs working on environmental issues

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your approach to building relationships with resistant stakeholders like kiln owners or government officials in West Bengal
2 How would you design a survey to assess kiln owners' readiness for Zigzag 2.0 adoption while addressing potential response bias?
3 What challenges do you anticipate in conducting key informant interviews across different stakeholder groups (workers vs. officials vs. owners)?
4 How would you ensure research quality while supervising field teams in remote brick kiln locations?
5 What existing J-PAL research on environmental regulation or industrial sectors informs your approach to this project?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic research experience without specific examples of stakeholder engagement in sensitive environments
  • Focusing only on quantitative methods without demonstrating strong qualitative research capabilities
  • Failing to show understanding of J-PAL's specific methodology (randomized evaluations) and how this role supports that approach
  • Not addressing the West Bengal/India context specifically in application materials

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

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Good luck with your application to Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)!

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