The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Post-doctoral Fellow, Gender and Education Initiative
Location: Nigeria
Assignment Length: 2 years, renewable by mutual consent and funding availability
Reporting to: Education Portfolio Lead and Senior Associate
Fellow Summary
- The Population Council is seeking a Post-doctoral Fellow focused on education research.
- The Council is embarking on a bold new Strategic Plan and global research agenda that aims to improve health and development outcomes by asking and answering strategic research questions to tackle pressing social, economic, health, and climate issues worldwide.
- The Council’s global and interdisciplinary research brings expertise in demography, epidemiology, biomedical research and product development, economics, public health, sociology, and science communications working across sexual, reproductive health, rights and choice, adolescent health and wellbeing, gender equality, and climate and environmental justice.
- Colleagues across the Council conduct rigorous science, generate high quality evidence and innovative data products, and communicate evidence strategically to influence social, economic and health policies and investments at national and global levels.
- The Population Council’s education initiative aims to increase gender equality and equity in education, and foster equality and empowerment through education, including through safe and equitable learning environments.
- The Post-doctoral Fellow will have an excellent opportunity to gain exposure, learn and engage in an international NGO setting.
- They will conduct innovative, rigorous, and relevant research to fill gaps in data and evidence, and to inform decision-makers on what works to improve education and gender equality and how.
- The Fellow will be mentored by the senior associate directing the Council’s education work and have an opportunity to collaborate with other researchers to support the Council’s growing research agenda on education.
- The Fellow will also be responsible for disseminating research findings, project development and management, and contributing to or leading fundraising efforts.
Responsibilities
Contribute to the Council’s innovative and policy/program-relevant research agenda:
- Work with the education lead to define, lead, conduct, and manage research on priority topics, including foundational literacy and numeracy, secondary school completion, life skills, gender transformative education, gender-related barriers to education, and violence in and around schools.
- Assess the current research gaps on priority research areas and conduct research to address these issues through various techniques (e.g., systematic reviews/meta-analysis and secondary analyses of existing data sets, including from experimental studies).
- Serve as co- investigator/lead researcher together with collaborating researchers to develop and execute research that aligns with Council priorities.
Contribute to the Development of the Council’s growing Research Program in Education:
- Establish equal partnerships with global South-based researchers, feminist-led advocates and practitioners, including staff from Council country offices, to increase global South voices and perspectives in global discourse and peer-reviewed journals, facilitate connections, and build capacity of junior researchers.
- Produce academic and non-academic publications that effectively communicate the Council’s research to diverse audiences.
- Assist with writing donor reports and reviewing and revising draft manuscripts and other written products.
- Integrate and translate evidence into digital and web-based tools, where applicable.
- Support or lead applications for research grants, including identifying and liaising with donors and contributing to proposal development.
- Represent the Council at external meetings and conferences.
- Manage and organize events, such as webinars and in-person panels.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Qualification / Requirements
- We understand that there are many paths to acquiring expertise and experience and strong candidates may not have every qualification listed here. We encourage applications from individuals with diverse and/or nontraditional backgrounds who bring passion, skills, and experience in many or most of these areas.
Qualifications
- PhD in Education, Economics, Demography, Sociology or other Social Sciences / relevant disciplines
- 3-5 years pre-doctoral work experience in a research organization
- Track record as lead writer and/or co-author on scientific publications and grant applications (regarding education preferred)
Experience:
- Fluency in quantitative data management and analysis (using STATA or other data analysis software) and demonstrated analytic capability using large, complex, and multiple datasets, including comparative analyses
- Strong knowledge and application of quantitative research design and methodology
- Experience in supporting or writing research grants and proposals (track record of winning research grants is desirable)
- Experience conducting own research studies and managing project from start to completion
- Experience in interacting with external partners (e.g., policy makers, researchers, advocates, donors, practitioners) to use data and evidence to effect change
- Experience working with under-resourced populations, especially marginalized women and girls
- Experience conducting research on FLN, literacy, numeracy, and enrollment/attainment
Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders (strong record of scientific writing/publications is desirable)
- Excellent time management and organizational skills
- Highly developed skills to influence and persuade; ability to quickly and effectively build relationships with team members and stakeholders
- Excellent computer proficiency (e.g., MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook, other software)
- Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary assistance to internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments within given parameters
- Strong attention to detail, with a proven ability to handle multiple responsibilities at one time, successfully prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
Other:
- Flexible, self-motivating with a team player attitude
- A strong interest in building capacity of research staff
- Result-oriented and committed to excellence
- French language skills a plus
Terms
- Fellowships based in the U.S include a monthly stipend to cover cost of living expenses, reimbursements for round trip travel to and from the fellow’s home country (as applicable), J-1 visa sponsorship (as applicable), and individual health insurance coverage. Fellows will be provided with office space and use of a computer.
- For fellowships based outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will be in accordance with local country office best practices and legal requirements in the relevant Council international office.
Application Closing Date
14th May, 2023.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Note
- Please include a brief description of your academic and professional qualifications and goals, a short statement about your research interests and a copy of your CV.
- International applicants are encouraged to apply.
- The Council requires all U.S. based staff, interns and fellows to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. New staff members must verify vaccination at the time of hire. Exemptions will only be considered for medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs. Exemptions are not guaranteed and must be discussed with Human Resources.
