Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB), LUMS
The Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB) at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) invites applications for part-time Research Associate (RA) positions in the area of Sustainability Studies.
The candidate will join the research team led by Dr Zehra Waheed, working on her funded project:
"Energy Transitions as a Human Challenge: A Phenomenological Inquiry into Pakistan's Sustainability Shift."
This project argues that Pakistan's energy transition cannot be effectively studied-or implemented-without understanding the sense-making processes of those shaping and experiencing it. Grounded in Frank Geels' Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) (Geels, 2004; 2024), the research explores how actors across different levels-government officials, private sector participants, and grassroots players-interpret and respond to ongoing sustainability transitions. Given the contested, multi-actor, and deeply political nature of such transitions, the project aims to bridge the gap between high-level policy discourse and the everyday struggles of transition on the ground (Cherp et al., 2021).
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct fieldwork in Lahore and nearby cities
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with key informants, gateway contacts, and local stakeholders
- Refine and document interview protocols
- Recruit and conduct interviews with participants
- Collect and organize primary and secondary data, including case study materials
- Attend relevant public meetings and assemblies-
- Record and manage field notes, photographs, and project metadata
- Organize and archive project data, consent forms, and ethics documentation
- Participate in weekly team meetings and collaborative discussions
Required Qualifications
- Some prior experience with qualitative fieldwork
- Demonstrated interest in energy transitions, sustainability, or related topics
- Strong language skills in Urdu, Punjabi, and English
- Excellent listening, interpersonal, and record-keeping skills
- Ability to travel within and (at times) between cities, as required
- A self-motivated, reflexive learner comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders
- Commitment to combining empirical fieldwork with theoretical insight
Terms of Appointment
- Duration: September 2025 - December 2025 (4-month, fixed-term appointments
- Contract Nature: Part Time
- Probation: One month
- Location: LUMS Campus, DHA, Lahore (with local travel)
Please apply by 17 August 2025. Interviews will be conducted thereafter.