Overview

Our research team (PI: Dr. Woojin Jung, Rutgers University School of Social Work) is seeking two research assistants for a global poverty project in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.  The research assistant will be responsible for collecting satellite images in the Republic of the Congo (ROC) and Zambia. The RA will work with team members to annotate, segment, and classify the objects of interest; assist our team with developing poverty detection algorithms; and produce granular maps of subnational poverty. The ideal candidate will also possess one or both of the following skills:

  1. Expertise in spatial analysis including advanced GIS skills and a high-level proficiency in ArcGIS Pro
  2. Proficiency in modeling and deep learning analysis

 Project overview

Our research team is soliciting applications for (a) research assistant(s). The research assistant will work on interdisciplinary research projects that lie in global poverty, development aid policy, and data science.

One of my current research projects is AI for Humanitarian Action. Our team is working on a project in the Republic of the Congo (RoC) and Zambia to identify impoverished and food-insecure communities using satellite and social media data. The project is undertaken in partnership with Microsoft, the World Food Programme, and the Innovations for Poverty Action. The duration of this project is from March 2021 to June/July 2023. Our research team is composed of interdisciplinary researchers with social science, economics, informatics, data and computer science, and geophysics backgrounds. Duties include but are not limited to (1) downloading and collecting satellite imagery (2) developing and testing deep learning models and multimodal approaches and (3) visualizing results.

More information about the projects can be found @ Measuring Poverty Using Satellite Imagery and Social Media in Congo and Zambia.

Credentials

  1. Education: Master’s or Ph.D. student in public policy and planning/ administration, urban planning, computer science, informatics, or relevant fields
  2. Data science skills:
    1. Skills with ArcGIS pro
    2. Skills with data representation, modeling/analysis visualization, and web-scraping
    3. Proficiency in one or more object-oriented programming languages such as Python and Matlab
    4. Familiarity with cloud computing resources such as Azure and AWS
    5. Familiarity with deep learning using satellite imagery preferred
    6. Knowledge of Stata and R desirable
    7. Teamwork and communication skills (working with international partners; managing and updating scripts, shared drivers)

Start date: Immediately

Duration: December 2023 with a possibility of extension

Hours: 5-10 hours per week

Please send a resume and cover letter (including your area of interest) with availability and preferred hourly rate to Dr. Woojin Jung at w.jung@rutgers.edu, copying Jacqueline Ponzio at jap582@ssw.rutgers.edu. The application deadline is rolling.

Research assistant-Scope of Work

    • Writing and editing: Provide assistance with the preparation and drafting of the project or teaching-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations; Compile, draft, and edit these materials.
    • Assist with grant writing.
    • Manage project-related website.
    • Communication: Communicate project status with internal team members and external partners; Coordinate meetings and seminars; Keep meeting minutes; Help PI with reviewing project budget.

To apply for this job email your details to w.jung@rutgers.edu