Position Overview

We are looking for a curious, detail-oriented, and field-ready Research Associate to support our work on designing an incentive mechanism to address the problem of groundwater over extraction in peninsular India. This project investigates the costs of groundwater over-extraction in peninsular India and designs a performance-based financing mechanism to incentivise aquifer recovery at the Gram Panchayat level. A core focus is understanding the relationship between groundwater extraction, depth to groundwater, and energy use – grounded in fieldwork in Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka.

The Associate will also support policy analysis on groundwater governance at a national level.

Job Location: Bengaluru/Chikkaballapur 

Type of Engagement: Full-time

Responsibilities

1. Review and synthesise literature on hard-rock aquifer hydrogeology, groundwater governance, and outcome-based or results-based financing models.
2. Compile, clean, and analyse secondary datasets including CGWB groundwater levels, feeder-level electricity data, borewell census data, and crop maps.
3. Assist in estimation of energy costs attributable to deep groundwater pumping using feeder-level electricity data.
4. Design survey questionnaires, ODK/MWATER survey instruments, data collection manuals
5. Lead field research activities including training and overseeing the work of research support personnel. Ensure data quality through high-frequency checks and analyse data from field activities.
6. Assist in community engagement activities and support field coordination in Chikkaballapur and other pilot locations.
7. Support preparing summaries, presentations, policy briefs, and knowledge products for internal and external audiences.
8. Assist in coordinating with government departments, CSO partners, academic institutions, and funders.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

Education & Experience

1. A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Studies, Rural Development, Water Resources, Public Policy, Economics,
   Geography, or a related field.
2. Exposure to primary fieldwork in rural India, ideally in agrarian or water-stressed contexts, is an advantage .
3. Demonstrated ability to conduct quantitative analysis is a plus

Knowledge and Skills

1. Genuine interest in India’s water, agriculture, and rural governance challenges.
2. Excellent data management, cleaning, and analysis skills; comfort with quantitative data tools (Excel, Python, R, or similar) is a plus.
3. Proficiency in Kannada or Telugu is a strong advantage.
4. Willingness to travel to field locations and engage directly with farming communities.
5. Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and learn quickly in a dynamic environment

Why Join Us? 

1. Contribute to a first-of-its-kind groundwater governance and climate finance initiative in India.
2. Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
3. Gain exposure to rigorous research methods, including RCT-based evaluation in collaboration with J-PAL South Asia.
4. Be part of a young, mission-driven team working at the frontier of water, energy, and rural development.

What We Offer

The salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience.

We review applications on a rolling basis. The position will remain open till a suitable candidate is found.

Our recruitment and employment policies are inclusive. We respect both the spirit and letter of the laws of equal employment opportunity.