NOVAFRICA Vacancy for Pre-doc or PhD research assistant in GLOBCOADEV project (Portugal)

NOVAFRICA is accepting applications for Research Assistants.

We are looking for one or more Research Assistants for the ERC project GLOBCOADEV.

The global impact of coastal water contamination on economic development” (GLOBCOADEV)
GLOBCOADEV will provide novel insights into the causal effect of coastal water contamination on economic development. Using a novel approach exploiting exogenous variation in coastal water contamination determined by rivers’ release and by climate change, we will identify this effect for the last five decades and at a global scale for all LMICs. By gathering a wide array of micro-level datasets, ranging from household surveys to satellite imaging, and applying advanced micro-econometric techniques, we will pursue three major objectives: 1) to provide the first global evidence of the effect of coastal water contamination on early-childhood development, focusing in particular on the role of nutrition; 2) to determine how coastal water contamination affects local economic activities, concentrating on the pattern of fishing and on indicators of overall economic development; 3) to investigate side effects of coastal water contamination that are impacting local economic development, which include changes in political attitudes, the insurgence of violence, and rural-urban migration.

Start date: September 2023.
Duration: 1 year (renewable)
Location: Carcavelos Campus, Nova School of Business and Economics
Responsibilities: The research assistant will provide research assistantship to the research projects under the umbrella of GLOBCOADEV, including data generation and data analysis.
Selection criteria: The candidate should have a strong research interest in development economics and/or environmental economics. Knowledge of microeconometrics is required. Coding expertise and interest/expertise in geospatial analysis and machine learning is considered a plus. Knowledge of Portuguese is not a requirement.

Your profile:
• MSc in Economics (completed by September 2023) or related or enrolled in PhD program.
• Knowledge of microeconometrics is required.
• Research interest and background in development economics and/or environmental economics
• Interest and expertise in geospatial analysis and machine learning.
• Working knowledge of Portuguese is required.

Compensation: The position is offered full-time for one year, and can be extended yearly. Lower percentages of time can be considered for candidates enrolled in a PhD program. The candidate is expected to start in September 2023.

Applications should be submitted via email to globcoadev@gmail.com. Applications must include a motivation letter describing the applicant’s own research interests and how their research experience fits within the GLOBCOADEV project, a full CV, and listing two referees that can be contacted for providing feedback about the candidate. A writing sample will be considered a plus. Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. The first round of interviews will be conducted virtually in June 2023 (dates TBC).

These positions are FILLED.