IRC Supervisor: Mikaela Cochran, Advisor, Best Use of Resources

CIDER Faculty Supervisors: Chris Barrett, Jenny Aker

Anticipated Duration: Fall term (August 26 – December 9, 2024)

Application Materials: Send to CIDER@cornell.edu (i) a resume, (ii) academic transcript(s), and (iii) a statement of interest (not to exceed two pages)

Deadline: June 10, 2024

Team:

IRC's Airbel Impact Lab designs, tests, and scales life-changing, cost-effective solutions for people affected by conflict and disaster. By applying the IRC's deep technical expertise and field experience with a range of skills from the behavioral sciences, human-centered design, research, and multi-disciplinary problem-solving in humanitarian contexts, we work to develop breakthrough solutions that combine creativity and rigor, openness and expertise, and a desire to think afresh with the experience of a large-scale implementing organization. Within Airbel, the Best Use of Resources team provides analysis and decision-making support to improve the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of IRC programs.

Role:

The IRC has led the way in producing cost evidence in the humanitarian sector using a standardized methodology to assess the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of humanitarian and development programs. Growing interest in cost evidence is increasing demand for these analyses throughout the humanitarian response sector. However, this data is most informative when we have a pool of comparable data points, allowing us to understand which interventions are more cost-efficient and cost-effective than others.

The Costing Analysis Evidence Mapping Intern will produce evidence gap maps compiling this pool of data on existing cost data. Examples of evidence gap maps can be found on websites for 3ie and Campbell. Up to three interns will be selected for this internship. They will each be assigned to produce an evidence gap map around one of the following thematic areas as it relates to costs, costing, cost-efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in humanitarian contexts:

• Seed security
• Nutrition
• Maternal and newborn health

If any intern reaches the limit of pre-existing data in the sector, they will be asked to move onto beginning a new evidence gap map for one of the following secondary thematic areas: economic livelihoods, protection, or education, in humanitarian contexts. Interns will be expected to collaborate on ensuring that their literature review approaches are consistent and systematic, and produced in a similar deliverable format of an excel file with pre-determined categories by the IRC oversight, along with a 3-5 page write-up of the main findings.

The interns will be working alongside and meet weekly with a Best Use of Resources Advisor, who will provide guidance on the deliverable work. The interns will also receive an orientation for the IRC's Evidence 2 Action (E2A) team on methodology, standards, and expectation setting for producing evidence gap maps. The E2A team supports the IRC in the gathering and use of evidence to make programmatic and strategic decisions. We identify, gather, and assess the best available research evidence, and clarify knowns and unknowns. This work informs IRC research and programming investments, improving program quality, guiding implementation decisions, and informing policy priorities. This internship will provide a unique opportunity to gain valuable exposure to the humanitarian and international development sector, by one of the leading cost analysis NGOs.

Remuneration:

Each intern will be provided a one-time stipend of $1,600 at the beginning of the semester, in compensation for at least 60 hours of time.

Deliverables:

• Evidence gap map excel file for each thematic area.
• 3-5 page write-up of key findings for each thematic area. This write-up will be posted to our IRC costing website for wider access by the humanitarian response costing community.

No travel will be involved for this position. All engagement will take place remotely via weekly Microsoft Teams calls and email.

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of thematic area covered in evidence mapping.
• Previous experience conducting literature reviews and secondary research.
• Strong communication skills and ability to synthesize technical information into straightforward and clear language for non-technical audiences.
• Attentiveness to detail.
• Interest in humanitarian aid and international development.
• Language proficiency skills in English required. Preferred language proficiency in French.
• Graduate students preferred. Undergraduate juniors and seniors will be considered.

Job Type: Full time

Location: Onsite, Ithaca (Main Campus)

Posted: December 16, 2025

Job ID: WDR-00056222

About CIDER:

The Cornell Collaborative for International Development Economics Research (CIDER) is a new cross-campus venture at Cornell University encompassing 23 faculty from multiple units across the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.

The CIDER Pre-Doctoral Research Fellowship Program:

The CIDER Pre-doctoral Research Fellowship Program is a full-time, post-baccalaureate program designed to prepare individuals wishing to apply for a PhD in Economics, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.

The pre-doctoral research fellow will work closely with one or more faculty whose research interests fall within the broad domain of development economics. The CIDER faculty can be found at https://business.cornell.edu/centers/cider/. Faculty members hiring this year include Chris Barrett, Heather Schofield, and John Hoddinott.

General duties include:

• Participation in empirical research projects guided closely by faculty members
• Engagement in the intellectual life at Cornell

Required Qualifications:

• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Bachelor's degree and 2 to 4 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination
• Previous coursework in econometrics and statistics and familiarity with statistics software such as Stata or R
• Strong knowledge of economics research techniques and/or methods, manifest in coursework and/or prior research experience
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent and professional verbal, written, and presentations skills
• Ability to work well independently, as well as with others, and to meet deadlines
• Ability to seek out, coordinate, and appropriately disseminate information

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in economics, business, public policy, mathematics, statistics, or a related field
• Master's degree in economics, business, public policy, mathematics, statistics, or a related field
• Relevant research experience (e.g., a senior thesis)
• Additional computer programming languages such as ArcGIS, Python or SQL
• Foreign language fluency – especially in French, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, and/or Portuguese

Position Details:

• This is a 1-year term staff position with the possibility of renewal for up to two years based upon performance and the availability of funding
• Those with F-1 OPT/STEM OPT can apply. In certain circumstances, J-1 sponsorship may be available
• No other visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is available for this position
• Full-time, onsite position based in Ithaca, NY
• Salary range: $65,447.00 - $75,632.00

Application Procedure:

Apply through the Cornell Career system. Please attach your Resume and Cover Letter in either Microsoft Word or PDF format.

Application Deadline: January 1, 2026

Apply Now

Location: Physical Sciences Building, Cornell University (Ithaca)

Conference Dates: Saturday, November 7, and Sunday morning, November 8, 2026

Posted: September 10, 2026

About the Conference:

Cornell's Collaboration for International Development Economics Research (CIDER) will host the 2026 annual conference of the North East Universities Development Consortium (NEUDC). NEUDC is the oldest and largest annual development economics conference globally. The program is expected to include roughly 190 different research paper presentations. We anticipate more than 400 development economists attending from all over the globe, including many of the field's stars.

Parallel sessions will run all day Saturday, November 7, and Sunday morning, November 8 in the Physical Sciences Building in central campus. Breakfast and lunch are provided each day, along with a conference dinner on Saturday night.

More information is available on the NEUDC 2026 website.

Volunteer Role:

The conference organizers need a team of student volunteers to help with tasks such as:

• On-site registration and check-in
• Assisting the event producer with support tasks in the days preceding the event and over the course of the weekend
• A/V support and timekeeping in the session rooms
• Providing social media coverage of presentations and conference events

What Volunteers Receive:

• Free conference registration (the student registration fee is $200 otherwise)
• The opportunity to hear talks by rising and established stars in development economics
• Professional networking opportunities
• Three meals on Saturday and breakfast/lunch on Sunday
• A distinctive NEUDC2026 long-sleeved t-shirt

Expectations:

• Attend a pre-conference volunteer orientation meeting in late October
• Commit to at least 8 hours of volunteer time

Who Should Apply:

Graduate and undergraduate students, pre-docs, and others with an interest in possible graduate study and/or careers in development economics.

How to Apply:

Complete a short Qualtrics survey by September 30. We expect to notify selected volunteers by October 10.

Deadline: September 30, 2026

Questions: neudc2026@cornell.edu

Apply Now

Job Type: Full time

Location: Onsite, Ithaca (Main Campus)

Posted: September 9, 2026

Job ID: WDR-00061135

About CIDER:

The Cornell Collaboration for International Development Economics Research (CIDER) is a cross-campus initiative at Cornell University encompassing 25 faculty from multiple units across the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.

The CIDER Pre-Doctoral Research Fellowship Program:

The CIDER Pre-doctoral Research Fellowship Program is a full-time, post-baccalaureate opportunity designed for individuals seeking preparation for doctoral study in Economics, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, or related disciplines.

Fellows work closely with Cornell faculty whose research focuses broadly on development economics, providing support for quantitative research and data analysis across a variety of ongoing projects. The CIDER faculty can be found at https://business.cornell.edu/centers/cider/. Depending on project needs, language skills, and individual interest, opportunities for field research may also be available. We expect to recruit multiple fellows as part of a cohort that will join continuing CIDER pre-doctoral fellows.

Key Responsibilities:

Research Support

• Coordinate with faculty Principal Investigator(s) (PIs) and other members of the research team to assist in planning, designing, implementing, conducting, and analyzing research projects and associated data collection activities
• Collect, clean, manage, and analyze secondary data to support faculty-led research initiatives
• Work closely with PI(s) to develop and maintain code used to organize, structure, and analyze research data
• Support the design, implementation, monitoring, and updating of research surveys
• Liaise with partner organizations involved in research implementation and data collection efforts
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesize findings to support ongoing research projects
• Assist in the preparation of manuscripts for publication, conference presentations, and research talks
• Support PI(s) in the preparation of grant and funding reports, Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, and other research-related documentation

Administrative Support

• Prepare materials and resources for programs, events, and initiatives as advised by the CIDER leadership team
• Provide logistical and administrative support for CIDER events, including virtual and in-person training programs, workshops, and seminars

Professional Development

• Participate in regular research seminar series and engage in the intellectual life of the university
• Participate in professional development and training opportunities for research assistants offered through CIDER and other campus units, including Mann Library and the Cornell Center for Social Sciences
• With mutual agreement between the pre-doctoral Fellow and supervising faculty PI(s), serve as a teaching assistant for a related course

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in economics, business, public policy, mathematics, statistics, or a related field with 2 to 4 years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Previous coursework in econometrics and statistics and familiarity with statistical software such as Stata or R
• Strong knowledge of economics research techniques and/or methods, manifest in coursework and/or prior research experience
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent professional verbal, written, and presentations skills
• Ability to work well independently, as well as with others, and to meet deadlines
• Ability to seek out, coordinate, and appropriately disseminate information
• Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in economics, business, public policy, mathematics, statistics, or a related field
• Relevant research experience (e.g., a senior thesis)
• Experience with additional data analysis, programming, or GIS tools such as ArcGIS, Python, or SQL
• Foreign language proficiency, especially in French, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, and/or Portuguese

Position Details:

• This is a 1-year term staff position with the possibility of renewal for up to two years based on performance and the availability of funding
• Those with F-1 OPT/STEM OPT can apply. No other visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is available for this position
• Full-time, onsite position based in Ithaca, NY
• Salary range: $65,447.00 - $75,632.00

Application Procedure:

Please submit a resume and cover letter describing your research interests, relevant quantitative research experience and skills, and interest in pursuing doctoral study.

Application Deadline: October 15, 2026

Applications received by October 15, 2026, will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date may be considered until the positions are filled.

Apply Now