The International Potato Center (CIP) is searching an outstanding and experienced candidate as Senior Research Associate and/or Research Associate to contribute to different interdisciplinary research projects (ID) carried out by our hosted organization, the Wyss Academy for Nature.

Based on the experience, skills, and performance during the interview, any of the two position types can be offered.

The Wyss Academy for Nature (WA) at the University of Bern’s vision is to achieve a just and sustainable world in which nature conservation and human wellbeing reinforce each other. We are a place of innovation, where research, business, policymakers, practitioners and communities come together to co-design solutions for sustainable futures. Our goal is to research, develop, and implement innovative solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change and rising inequality by connecting technical, social, economic, institutional and policy innovations at the interface of nature and people. The WA comprises four regional hubs, one each in Europe (Switzerland), South America (Peru), East Africa (Kenya), and Southeast Asia (Laos).

About the role: the selected candidate will contribute to different interdisciplinary research projects (ID) implemented by the Wyss Academy for Nature staff and partners. This national recruited position will be based in Puerto Maldonado, Peru.

Key responsibilities:

•        Contribute to the implementation of the ID research projects in close coordination with the MDD scientist, Wyss Academy professors and ID project leads.
•        Carry-on research activities including but not limited to quantitative data collection and analysis; literature research and synthesis; Collection of secondary data; Household interviews and surveys
•        Participate in the collecting of data within Randomized Control Trials and subsequent data analysis using a variety of statistical methods
•        Contribute to the partnership’s establishment and coordination, and participate in the engagement processes (e.g. multi-stakeholder workshops, learning events)
•        Elaborate internal documents with preliminary results for discussion with the Hub and research teams
•        Written and oral presentations of interdisciplinary research progress
•        Comply with applicable health and safety CIP policies and procedures.

Requirements

What are we looking for?

•        Degree in economics/finance/management/political science, ideally with a specialization in environmental or agricultural economics (MSc is desired).
•        (Must) At least 6-8 years of working experience in applied research for development or conservation.
•        (Must) Good statistical and/or econometric skills.
•        (Must) Programming skills in at least one of R, Python or Stata.
•        (Desired) Knowledge in economic valuation approaches for ecosystem services and biodiversity.
•        (Desired) Experience conducting randomized control trials).
•        (Desired) Prior experience in tropical landscapes.
•        Good communication skills.
•        Good English level.

Benefits