About the Role

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) at BRAC University invites applications for the position of Research Fellow.

This is a mid-senior level research position responsible for supporting the design, implementation, and management of high-quality research programs on economics, gender and politics, and other development-related issues.

The Research Fellow will work under the supervision of the relevant Cluster Lead/Research Director and will provide day-to-day leadership to research teams, ensuring the timely delivery of research outputs while maintaining high standards of scientific quality and research integrity. The position also plays an important role in research program development, proposal writing, partnership development, and resource mobilization.

Key Responsibilities

Research Program Development

• Contribute to the development, design, and implementation of research programs. 
• Assist in developing innovative research agendas. 
• Support the design and execution of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research. 
• Ensure research quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, and scientific integrity throughout project implementation. 

Research Project Management

• Support the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and successful completion of multiple research projects. 
• Supervise and provide technical guidance to Research Associates, Senior Research Associates, Field Coordinators, and research consultants. 
• Coordinate field activities, data collection, data quality assurance, analysis, and reporting. 
• Monitor project timelines, deliverables, budgets, and compliance with donor and institutional requirements. 
• Ensure timely submission of project reports and research outputs. 

Team Leadership and Supervision

• Provide day-to-day supervision and mentorship to research teams under the guidance of the Cluster Lead. 
• Allocate responsibilities, monitor progress, and support professional development of junior researchers. 
• Promote collaboration, effective communication, and high-performance research practices across project teams. 
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building within the cluster. 

Resource Mobilization and Proposal Development

• Support the preparation of competitive research proposals for national and international funding opportunities. 
• Contribute to identifying potential funding opportunities and strategic partnerships. 
• Assist in developing concept notes, grant applications, project budgets, and technical proposals. 
• Support donor engagement and contribute to resource mobilization initiatives aligned with BIGD’s strategic priorities. 

Publications and Knowledge Generation

• Contribute to the preparation of peer-reviewed journal articles, policy briefs, working papers, technical reports, and other knowledge products. 
• Present research findings at seminars, workshops, conferences, and policy dialogue events. 
• Collaborate with internal and external researchers on publications and research dissemination activities. 

Policy Engagement

• Support the translation of research findings into evidence-informed policy recommendations. 
• Engage with government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and academic institutions as required. 
• Assist in organizing dissemination events, stakeholder consultations, workshops, and policy dialogues. 
• Represent BIGD in meetings, conferences, and research forums when delegated. 

Institutional Support

• Provide technical and research support to the Cluster Head and Research Director in implementing the cluster’s strategic research agenda. 
• Contribute to institutional planning, quality assurance, cross-cluster collaboration, and organizational development initiatives. 
• Perform other research and administrative responsibilities assigned by the Cluster Head or Research Director. 

Qualifications

Essential

• PhD in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Sociology, International Relations, or another closely related discipline. 

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in policy-oriented research following completion of the PhD (or 7 years of progressively responsible research experience overall).
• Experience managing applied research projects from design through dissemination. 
• Demonstrated experience supervising research teams and coordinating multiple research activities. 
• Experience working with government agencies, development partners, universities, think tanks, or international organizations will be considered an advantage. 
• Experience in proposal development, donor-funded projects, or research program management will be considered an asset. 

Publications

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to produce high-quality academic and policy-oriented research.

• Publications in peer-reviewed journals, policy reports, working papers, or edited volumes are desirable. 
• Publication in Q1 peer-reviewed journals (as ranked by Scopus/SCImago Journal Rank or Clarivate Journal Citation Reports) will be considered a strong advantage during the assessment process but is not mandatory. 

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research methodologies. 
• Experience in survey design, political economy analysis, institutional analysis, governance research, and policy evaluation. 
• Proficiency in statistical software such as Stata, R, SPSS, Python, or equivalent. 
• Experience using qualitative analysis software such as NVivo, Atlas.ti, or MAXQDA. 
• Strong project management and coordination skills. 
• Experience in proposal writing, donor reporting, and research communication. 
• Excellent analytical, academic writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively within multidisciplinary research teams. 

Eligibility

BIGD will recruit an individual with the right to work in Bangladesh. BIGD recognizes the value that diversity brings to the organization in terms of experience, skills, talent, and cultural perspectives. The organization is committed to building an inclusive environment where all staff members are valued, treated fairly, and respected.

BIGD is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex (female, male or other), race, age, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, medical condition (with certain exceptions based on job role), class, caste, ethnicity, disability, location, pregnancy, maternity or paternity, or religion. BIGD’s commitment to equal opportunity covers all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, compensation, promotion, professional development, termination, and participation in BIGD-sponsored employee activities.

Application Process

Interested candidates are requested to submit:

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A cover letter describing their suitability and motivation for the position
• Contact details of at least two professional referees

Applications should be submitted through the prescribed online application: Apply

Applications that do not comply with the instructions will not be considered. 

Last Date of Application:  25 September 2026