SCID Summer Field Research Assistant - Bangalore, India
The Stanford Center for International Development is pleased to announce openings for the Summer Undergraduate Field Research Assistant Program. This RA will be working under the supervision of Aruna Ranganathan on research studying innovation by handicraft artisans in India.
Innovation and Product Design by Handicraft Artisans in a Context of Global Markets
Historically, handicraft artisans in developing countries have relied on a few, traditional product designs in their production process. However, innovating and adopting new product designs could improve their economic livelihoods by opening up new markets. Motivated by this observation, we ask: under what conditions do handicraft artisans innovate and adopt new designs in their production process to cater to urban and global markets?
The student will conduct exploratory research in the wood and lacquerware cluster of Channapatna in India and the nearby city of Bangalore. The exploratory research will consist of interviewing and surveying designers in Bangalore who work with artisans to ask them about their experience introducing new designs amongst the Channapatna artisans, and spending some time in Channapatna interviewing and observing artisans at work. This exploratory research will help inform the design of a field experiment testing means to improve artisans’ openness to experimentation with new designs.
Each undergraduate RA will receive a stipend to cover travel and living expenses. The minimum time commitment is six weeks, and stipends will be pro-rated if the total time commitment is less than ten weeks. In advance of travel abroad, participating students will attend an orientation session on conducting research in developing countries and compliance with Stanford University policies. Students will also be eligible to present their work at a student conference in the fall quarter.
Faculty supervisor: Aruna Ranganathan (GSB)
- Gain first-hand experience in field research on international economic development
- Spend up to ten weeks in India to conduct research for Stanford organizational behavior professor Aruna Ranganathan
- Interview designers and artisans as part of exploratory research on the wood and lacquerware cluster
Due to the type of funding, this program is available only to current Stanford undergraduates. Students must be enrolled for both the preceding spring quarter and the following fall quarter.
Preference will be given to students who have taken a class on qualitative data collection. Spoken language skills in Hindi or Kannada a plus but not required.
To apply, please send a CV, a letter of interest, dates of availability, and an unofficial transcript to Emily Miller at emily.miller@stanford.edu. Applications are due by February 27, 2017. Interviews will be conducted before spring break.
