Hybrid Research Specialist bei Busara center for behavioral economics

Busara, in collaboration with Oxford University, is seeking applications for a Research Specialist position. We conduct lab and field experiments in both developing and developed countries, addressing questions in development and behavioral economics. The successful applicant will work on academic projects supervised by Kate Orkin (University of Oxford), Matthew Ridley (University of Warwick), Alison Andrew (University of Oxford), Nate Barker (Northwestern University), Rob Garlick (Duke University). 

 

The position is based at Busara in Nairobi, Kenya, which works with researchers and organizations to advance and apply behavioral science in pursuit of poverty alleviation. The successful applicant will participate in all aspects of the work, particularly around the planning and execution of field and lab experiments and data analysis. The position is particularly appropriate for candidates with backgrounds in quantitative social science, who have experience in overseeing field studies, and who have a strong proficiency in coding and data analysis. Applicants from Kenya are strongly encouraged to apply, and international applicants will be sponsored for a work visa. The successful applicant will engage across two ongoing strands of work with the research group.   

  

First, the group has recently launched a large-scale randomised control trial to understand how mental health impacts labour market participation, including job search, job application quality, and workplace productivity. We will also evaluate the effects of a psychological intervention focused on difficulties surrounding work in the region on our chosen outcomes.  

  

Second, the group is preparing another randomized control trial aimed at tackling the barriers young job seekers in Nairobi face along the path to attaining stable employment. The project will specifically focus on the role of information and will seek to understand the differential impacts of labour market frictions on men and women. This project is run in collaboration with Remit Kenya.