SCID Summer Field Research Assistant - Cote d’Ivoire
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 senior Stanford economists on research studying the impacts of urbanization in Cote d’Ivoire.
Socioeconomic Impacts of Urbanization in Cote d’Ivoire
In recent years, African nations like Cote d’Ivoire have been experiencing rapid economic growth as well as high urbanization rates and urban sprawl, as people and businesses are moving from rural areas to capital cities and surrounding areas. Yet, there has been limited scientific analysis of a large set of issues that are peculiar to cities, such as urban poverty, employment/unemployment patterns, migration trends, firm characteristics, and urban governance. Most existing socio-economic surveys in Sub-Saharan Africa are largely focused on rural populations and many of them are cross-sectional. The Stanford Economic Development Research Initiative (SEDRI) intends to fill this gap by creating long-term panel datasets of households, businesses, and local administrators in peri-urban areas of multiple Sub-Saharan African countries.
Under the guidance of senior Stanford economists and project staff, the summer undergraduate RA will help with need-finding and survey piloting in the greater Abidjan area. The work will include conducting exploratory interviews, gathering administrative data, preliminary data analysis, and report writing.
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 supervisors: Marcel Fafchamps (FSI) and Pascaline Dupas (Economics)
- Gain first-hand experience in field research on international economic development
- Spend up to ten weeks in Cote d’Ivoire to conduct research for the Stanford Economic Development Research Initiative
- Help with need-finding and survey piloting in the greater Abidjan area, including exploratory interviews, preliminary data analysis, and report writing
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.
The student must be comfortable communicating in verbal and written French. Students who have completed the core economics major requirements or who have taken Econ 118 strongly preferred. Experience conducting field work or working in a developing country is a plus, but not required. Experience working in STATA or R is preferred, but not required. The student should be interested in development economics and urbanization.
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.
