Predoctoral Research Scholar

Description

The Pulte Institute is looking for a proactive, self-starter who desires to be part of solving one of the most critical issues our world faces today – global poverty. The pre-doc will support the work of research and impact evaluation in partnership with globally-based researchers to create evidence around what works in the fight against poverty and toward a more long-term sustainable future. 

Who we are:

The Pulte Institute for Global Development—an integral part of the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs— connects evidence to policy and practice to end poverty and promote sustainability. The institute supports essential research with global partners to design, implement and evaluate projects that promote human dignity by providing pathways out of poverty and toward a more sustainable future for the world’s most vulnerable.

Who we need:

The pre-doc will work closely with principal investigators (PIs) on global development research on the topics of poverty reduction, global education and sustainability taking significant ownership of projects, from independently coordinating project logistics, to communication between field-based and campus-based partners, conducting data analysis with guidance and mentorship from PIs, and coordination of final dissemination of results. This role will have the opportunity to contribute to ongoing global evidence syntheses and agricultural innovation reviews in the Philippines and Malawi, and UND Poverty Initiative research in Ghana, Peru, India, Uganda, Kenya and Senegal. This role may be substantial enough to lead to co-authorship on published papers in some cases.

The pre-doc’s responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Project Management (25-50%)

• Drive forward and manage a portfolio of approximately 5-6 active Pulte research projects at varying stages of the research lifecycle

• Work closely with implementing partners to integrate evaluation into their activity’s everyday operations

• Lead regularly-scheduled researcher-partner calls with globally-based research partners

• Liaise between PIs and partner organizations, clarifying concerns and handling project logistics

• Arrange and support global site visits with PIs, as applicable

• Research, Data Collection, Management, and Analysis (25-50%)

• Conduct literature reviews and evidence syntheses on topics related to the primary research aims, coordinating with student research assistants as necessary

• Clean, organize, and construct datasets to ensure accuracy and consistency of data

• Perform quantitative analyses and produce key figures and results 

• Perform qualitative analyses, including developing codebooks, coding transcripts, reducing data, and summarizing key findings

• Coordinate data exchanges between local data collection partners, Pulte Institute PIs, implementing partners, and/or funding partners

• Draft, program and maintain data collection instruments (survey tools, literacy and numeracy assessments, focus group discussion guides and key informant interview scripts)

• Inter- and Intra-institutional Support (10%)

• Engage in weekly staff meetings, raising common challenges and providing feedback as necessary

• Work with other Pulte staff to complete project-related administrative tasks

• Coordinate the work of undergraduate student workers, as needed 

• Writing and Dissemination (15%)

• Assist in the composition of key project documents (e.g. pre-analysis plans, literature reviews, grant proposals and reports, research paper drafts, etc.)

• Draft technical language for research administration documents (e.g. data-sharing agreements, reliance agreements, IRB proposals / amendments, etc.)

• Assist with presentation of results and project updates to agency partners, senior Pulte leadership and staff, and other key stakeholders, attending conferences and other meetings as needed

This position is a 1-year appointment at the University of Notre Dame with the possibility of renewal for a second term. Pre-docs are supported by a positive work environment and a robust team of fellow researchers, including other pre-docs, post-docs,