Our cross-continental research team seeks to appoint two Post-Doctoral Researchers to assist on an exciting new project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). It is a collaborative research project titled Global Foundational Analysis to Close the Gender Profitability Gap and undertaken by Ethiopian Economics Association (EEA) from Ethiopia, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) from United Arab Emirates, Vassar College from The United States, and College of Development Studies (CoDS) of Addis Ababa University (AAU) from Ethiopia. This project will achieve four primary goals: 1) Improve understanding of the global business and policy environment for women owned enterprises; 2) Increase the knowledge of facts, trends and predictors of the gender profit gap at the global level; 3) Synthesize existing research and evidence on gender gaps in entrepreneurship and enterprise performance; and 4) Deeply explore the gender profitability gap in Ethiopia. The postdoctoral researchers will be important contributors to all four of these goals. More detail about the project can be found on our website (http://pages.vassar.edu/gender-profit-gap/).
Specific duties: The post-doctoral position responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Devises methods and procedures for collecting and processing data using various analytical and sampling techniques;
- Compiles relevant data to investigate the global gender profitability gap;
- Reviews theoretical and empirical literature on gender inequality, economic empowerment, and profitability gap across countries;
- Conducts data analysis on gender profitability gaps;
- Presents intermediate and final research findings at regional and dissemination workshops to be organized by the project;
- Engages in dissemination of research outputs and other information on women owned enterprises (WOE) and gender profitability gaps;
- Prepares policy and research briefs based on the research project outputs;
- Develops strong networks within EEA and across Ethiopia, and launches independent research focused on gender gaps;
- Closely works and collaborates with local mentors/co-investigators at EEA;
- Performs other related activities deemed to be relevant to the successful implementation and completion of the project objectives.
Qualification: The applicant should have a Ph.D. degree in Economics, Development Economics, Industrial Economics, Business Economics, Gender Economics, Financial Economics, Econometrics, or other fields related to Economics received in the last three years or expect to have received it by July 2021 (documentation will be required). We encourage applications from very promising candidates with a capacity to conduct innovative, high-quality scholarly research in economics, with a particular interest in research pertaining to gender inequality and private enterprise development in low-income countries. This research capacity and experience must be demonstrated by reputed scholarship related to the project (gender inequality, gender profitability gap, women economic empowerment, gender and economy, and related areas); applicants should have at least one full research sample (for example a publication in a reputable journal or job market paper). The applicant should have skills in using standard statistical software packages such as STATA.
The research team behind this project are keen on increasing diversity among premier economic scholars and especially encourage women and underrepresented minorities to apply. Ethiopian and other Sub-Saharan African Nationals are encouraged to apply.
Terms of employment: The duration of employment is from January 2021 to July 2023. The position will start with remote part-time research assistance (20 hours a week) through Vassar College in January 2021 and move to full-time post-doctoral appointments for the duration of the two years with the Ethiopian Economic Association (EEA), from July 2021 – July 2023. The candidate will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the post-doctoral appointment with EEA. During the duration of the appointment position with the EEA, the post-doctoral appointee will also hold a visiting scholar affiliation with NYUAD and Vassar College.
Salary: Attractive (negotiable)
Place of work: Remote for six months when working part-time, then two years full-time in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) at EEA.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants who meet the above requirements are required to submit the following materials via EconJobMarket:
· Resume (with names and contact information for at least 3 references)
· Cover letter explaining interest in position
· Copies of academic credentials (degrees and student copies/transcripts)
· Statement of research interest
· Example of scholarship (for example a recent publication or a job market paper)
The call will continue on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for online interview to be co-organized by the project team.
For questions about this position, please email Gisella Kagy (gikagy@vassar.edu), Morgan Hardy (morgan.hardy@nyu.edu), Degye Goshu (degyeabgos@gmail.com ), and Mengistu Ketema (mengistuket@gmail.com)
- Curriculum vitae
- Paper (writing example)
- Cover letter
- Research statement
- Transcript of grades