The Research Associate will work with Dr. Bilal A. Malik (LUMS), whose areas of research include madrasas; Islamic piety & politics; religion & secularism; and character development in educational contexts. More about Dr. Malik here. The Research Team Manager/Research Associate will be responsible for two core areas: substantive research on assigned projects as well as overall management and coordination of the research team.
Research (60-70% of the role): The postholder will be involved in research activities of assigned project(s). Tasks will include: primary and secondary research (literature reviews, survey construction, data monitoring, textual analysis/coding of interviews, etc.). Procuring primary documents. Locating and procuring secondary sources and identifying their relevance. Fact-checks and bibliography-checks. Support with writing research memos, drafts of outputs and report-writing, research grants proposals and IRB applications. Etc. Other tasks will evolve with time and some tasks can be designed keeping in mind the individual's academic and career plans. (Note: authorship on outputs of the research will depend on the scope of the RA’s contributions to the analysis/writing.)
Team Management (30-40% of the role): The postholder will support team management, grant administration, financial coordination, donor communication, recruitment, and implementation of research and team protocols. Tasks will include overseeing the day-to-day functioning, workload, goal-setting, professional development, and wellbeing of the research team; managing current and prospective grants, budgets, donor communication, reporting, and IRB compliance; and maintaining Google Drive. The role will also involve coordinating recruitment, contracts, onboarding, and communication with the Principal Investigator and relevant university offices.
Skills, Knowledge, Interests: Excellent work-ethic is essential. Ideal candidates will have training in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods and familiarity with relevant social sciences (education, anthropology/ sociology, religious studies, south asian studies, etc.) Strong reading and writing ability in English, and proficiency in Urdu is expected. People looking to apply for PhD programs abroad may be particularly suitable for the position (though this is not essential).
Academic Qualifications: Ideally, a masters from a good foreign university or a very strong domestic program. Exceptional candidates without a masters degree will also be considered: e.g. those with high undergraduate GPAs, senior project/thesis during college and research experience after college.
Experience: 1-3 years of research experience. Team management experience preferred.
For any questions/clarifications about the position or application, please email fatima_khan@lums.edu.pk
Benefits
- Salary: PKR 90,000–120,000 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications
- Flexibility: Hybrid work arrangements and flexible working hours, except for scheduled team meetings
- Learning: Opportunities to develop research and managerial skills
- Career positioning: Strengthens your profile for both graduate education and managerial opportunities