Open position at EPFL for a research assistant for a SNIS project

Research Assistant

Research Assistant

The Cooperation Unit at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is looking to hire a

Research Assistant

for the international research project “Migration, Scientific Diasporas and Development: Impact of Skilled Return Migration on Development in India”.

This project addresses the issue of Indian skilled migration and seeks to identify ways of involving returning skilled migrants in home country development. It also looks at the best approaches in terms of engaging scientific diasporas in this task. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva and with academic institutions in India (New Delhi and Calcutta) and it is being funded by the Swiss Network of International Studies (SNIS).

Job description :

The Research Assistant will help the Project Coordinator to carry out research and other activities related to the coordination, implementation and valorization of the project, especially in the following tasks:

• Carrying out empirical research and field work (in European destination countries)
• Carrying out qualitative and quantitative analysis and interpreting the gathered data
• Producing results and policy recommendations
• Dissemination and publication of research findings
• Writing of reports for the funding institution
• Controlling the budget and managing project finance

Candidate profile :

• Background in International Relations, Political Science or Social Sciences
• Good knowledge (and expertise in the use) of qualitative and quantitative social science methodologies
• Knowledge of software and tools for data and survey analysis
• Experience and a strong affinity with international migration research and policies
• Motivation to work on an interdisciplinary and international project
• Capacity to work independently and to organize and deliver work according to tight timelines
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English (a knowledge of French would be an advantage)

Starting date : 1st January 2011

Duration : for a limited period of 24 months

Activity rate : 50%

Contact :

For further information, please contact Dr. Gabriela Tejada, Cooperation@epfl -EPFL Tel. 021 693 51 15; gabriela.tejada@epfl.ch

Interested individuals should send their CV, a statement of interest, their diplomas and references from previous positions, by 26th November 2010 to: EPFL Human Resources Department, EPFL DRH, Annonce ref. ADM/3641, Station 7, CH - 1015 LAUSANNE