Research Associate

About CERP

The Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan, or CERP, is a leading independent nonpartisan policy institution focused on improving decision-making in Pakistan through evidence-informed research, engaging with policy counterparts with real policy challenges, and designing and advising on high-impact reforms based on data. At CERP, we also deploy cutting-edge pedagogy tailored for Pakistan and provide data insights to the private sector on product and process design.

About the Department/Project

The Research Development team develops and supports CERP’s portfolio of research projects through collaboration with academia, funders, research partners, and government departments. It assists CERP’s Research Fellows (faculty and experts based in international and Pakistani universities and multilateral organizations) in starting and managing new research studies hosted at CERP. The Research Development team also independently conducts research and scoping studies in partnership with CERP Research Fellows. It is involved in organizing international and local academic conferences and dissemination initiatives to share the learnings from CERP-affiliated studies and researchers with policymakers and the public at large.

Partnering with the University of Michigan, the Research Development team is recruiting a Research Associate to work on its research (mainly outside Pakistan) led by one of CERP’s Research Fellows, Professor Basit Zafar.

Role Overview

CERP is hiring a Research Associate for a full-time position based at CERP offices in either Lahore or Karachi . CERP’s project teams are compact yet highly productive, delivering impactful results through collaboration and innovation. This position is both challenging and rewarding, ideal for individuals who take ownership of their work, demonstrate accountability, and perform effectively with minimal supervision. The role requires a proactive mindset, a willingness to learn new skills, and the ability to take on challenges with confidence and determination.

You will be working on various research projects, led by Professor Basit Zafar (Reuben Kempf Professor of Economics, University of Michigan). These projects will be related to labor economics and education. To get a sense of the kinds of projects you may work on, you can look at Professor Zafar’s research here . You will report to Professor Zafar for the duration of your employment.

This position’s contract duration is for 1 year (including a 3-month probationary period initially), with the option to extend it for another year subject to satisfactory performance. We would prefer that the person hired for this position works with us for the full 2 years.

As a Research Associate, you will engage in a number of activities that support ongoing and planning research activities, including:

Job Responsibilities:

1. Technical & Functional Expertise

• Conduct literature reviews and develop annotated bibliographies that summarize key elements of published research.
• Collect, code, clean, and link various data resources in preparation for statistical analyses.
• Contribute to the development of data analysis plans and carry out analyses on data resources.
• Assist with the design of surveys and experiments, creation of tables and figures for presentations, statistical reports, manuscripts, and/or grant proposals.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of data-related processes, protocols, and project methodologies.
• Assist the Research Development Department in new project development initiatives (e.g., grant writing, fundraising) and conducting scoping studies.

2. Project Operations & Stakeholder Management

• Prepare and compile periodic progress reports and updates for review by Principal Investigators and/or CERP Departmental Lead.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Principal Investigators or CERP Management.

Other Duties: This is NOT an exhaustive list of tasks that you will be performing as a Research Associate. You may be assigned additional tasks on other CERP Projects as deemed necessary by your reporting points, Program, or CERP management, or the CERP Board.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in economics, applied math, public policy, or another relevant field. A combination of education and professional experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree.
• 1-3 years of relevant experience preferred. Research experience is preferred but not required.
• Strong background in statistical analysis, probability, applied math, coding, and data analysis.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in coding using common statistical software programs (such as Stata, R, Python, SAS, etc.) for data cleaning, visualization, management, and analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with team members in different countries and time zones.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience working in a research environment, wrangling large datasets.
• Knowledge and understanding of data science, probabilistic matching methods, statistics, and regression analysis.

How to Apply?

Applicants are required to submit a (1) cover letter, (2) resume, and (3) example code. To apply, please upload a single PDF containing

1. A cover letter describing:
2. Your interest in the position – explain how your skills and experience align with the job requirements and why you are applying for the position
3. The start and end dates for which you would be able to fill this position
4. Your familiarity with programming languages (e.g., Stata, SAS, R, Matlab, Python, machine learning algorithms, cloud computing platforms)
5. Your prior experience as a research assistant and/or with independent research projects
6. Names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of 3 references. Please indicate which references you have worked for as a research assistant and which have supervised your work on an independent research project (letters are not required at the time of application).
7. A current CV, including all relevant degrees completed or to be completed before the start date, noting institution, degree, and field of study
8. All relevant undergraduate (and graduate) transcripts (unofficial transcripts can be submitted)
9. Example code should not exceed 5 pages in length and should showcase your skills in cleaning, merging, and analyzing databases, or be an example of another relevant exercise.