Application Process

Who Is Hiring

J-PAL facilitates recruitment for postings from our affiliated professors as well as J-PAL’s regional offices and partner organizations. J-PAL’s Global and North America offices are at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, and J-PAL’s regional offices are at the University of Cape Town, IFMR (India), the Paris School of Economics, Universitas Indonesia, and PUC Chile.

J-PAL affiliated professors employ research staff through a variety of research centers, including Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), Centre for Microfinance, Evidence for Policy Design (EPoD), Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), and IFMR Lead. J-PAL affiliates also hire research assistants at their home universities. Only staff hired for positions at J-PAL in Cambridge, MA will be hired as MIT employees. All other staff, including those hired by J-PAL regional offices, will be hired by the specific research center or university they are working with.

How to Apply

Please read job postings carefully and follow application instructions exactly as they are listed - they may differ based on position type or region. Some positions ask applicants to send their materials directly to hiring managers, while most positions require applicants to apply through our Common Application. If directed to the common application, it is especially important to follow application instructions and complete all required sections for the particular job for which you are applying. You will be unable to submit incomplete applications.

For our general research positions, a complete application in the database includes: a CV/resume, statement or purpose (cover letter), transcripts, an explanation of international and developing country experience (for positions based in developing countries), languages, and a list of courses taken in economics, mathematics, and statistics. Additionally, for select positions you will be asked to include the names and email addresses of two to three individuals who will provide your letters of recommendation. Because the application system will immediately send an email to your recommenders, we suggest you reach out to your letter writers prior to providing their information to J-PAL.

Selection Process

J-PAL is a network of research centers and academics who run research projects around the world. Though we have a centralized application database, the hiring process is highly decentralized. J-PAL staff, researchers, and hiring managers will browse applicants by a rating of application strength, geographic location, and flexibility. Given the volume of applications that J-PAL receives, only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interviews. Candidates may receive interview requests from several researchers or organizations within our network throughout the selection process.

Learn more about working at J-PAL

Watch a webinar hosted by staff at J-PAL Global to learn more about the work J-PAL does around the world, the positions available in various departments, and the application process.