Research Associate - Rice Cultivation and Sustainable Agriculture

About the role

ICRIER is hiring two positions in its Agriculture Policy, Sustainability and Innovation (APSI) programme in New Delhi: one Fellow and one Research Associate, both focused on environmental sustainability and agrobiodiversity research. The work centres on rice cultivation and sustainable agricultural practices, including field surveys, farmer engagement and policy-oriented research.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate field surveys and primary data collection on rice cultivation and sustainable agricultural practices
• Design and run farmer surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and stakeholder consultations
• Undertake literature reviews and secondary-data analysis on rice, agricultural sustainability, natural resources, agrobiodiversity and climate change
• Contribute to research on sustainable rice cultivation, biodiversity conservation, biodiversity finance and sustainable agriculture
• Prepare research reports, policy briefs, presentations, working papers and other knowledge products
• Coordinate with field partners, researchers, government agencies and development organisations, and support project management, monitoring and dissemination activities
• For the Research Associate: help design surveys, clean and analyse data, maintain field records and assist in organising workshops and consultations

Required profile

• Fellow: Master's or PhD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Development Studies, Environmental Economics, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity or a related field, with 2-5 years of research experience; PhD candidates with relevant experience may also be considered
• Research Associate: Master's degree in a related field, 0-2 years of research experience; fresh postgraduates with strong research skills may be considered
• Strong experience in primary research, field surveys and organising workshops and policy dialogues
• Good understanding of Indian agriculture, especially rice-based farming systems, is desirable
• Willingness to travel extensively for fieldwork

Required skills

• Research Associate: proficiency in MS Excel is essential; familiarity with Stata, SPSS or similar data-analysis software is an advantage
• Both roles: strong analytical, writing, communication and coordination skills

Candidates apply by sending a detailed CV electronically to the named ICRIER contacts by 31 August 2026.