Research Assistant

The Natural Resources and Resilience Unit of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Research Assistant who will support ongoing interdisciplinary research on the use of AI models to enhance information access, decision support, and local adaptation.

The Research Assistant will assist in the development, application, and evaluation of AI technologies at the intersection of Natural Language Processing (NLP), Automated Speech Recognition (ASR), and Large Language Models (LLMs) for low-resource languages. The Research Assistant will be part of research projects that aim to design, pilot, and evaluate agentic AI systems for farm advisory services in African countries. Under the guidance of senior researchers, key responsibilities will include assisting with AI model fine-tuning, data system management, multimodal tool integration, and the assessment of AI systems for inclusivity, transparency, and contextual relevance for smallholder farmers.

This is a one-year, exempt, renewable position based in Washington, DC.

Essential Duties

Specific tasks include but are not limited to:

• Assist in the design, development, and implementation of innovative AI-powered Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) solutions to enhance analytical and decision-making capacity in data-intensive research contexts.
• Assist with the preparation, analysis, and management of large multimodal datasets for AI model fine-tuning and solution benchmarking.
• Assist in communicating research findings through publications, seminars, and stakeholder workshops.
• Assist in supporting partnerships with academic, private sector, and development partners to advance responsible AI innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Agricultural Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Geography, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience applying Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) models in low-resource languages in African countries, particularly Swahili, Luganda, or Chichewa, and deploying these models to support agricultural advisory services.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Python programming for data science applications and SQL for data management.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multicultural and interdisciplinary research environments with researchers and partner organizations.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• A degree or reputable certification specializing in AI, ASR, or NLP.
• Experience working with CGIAR and its partner organizations on digital innovation and advisory services in Africa.
• Experience developing or deploying multimodal AI systems and applying ethical AI governance frameworks.
• Experience working in cloud-based computing environments such as Hugging Face or AWS.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Employee may sit at a computer screen for long periods.
• Employee may lift up to 10 pounds in the course of normal duties.
• Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform such activities as reading data, performing calculations, and preparing written documents.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is an equal employment opportunity employer - F/M/Disability/Vet/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.

IFPRI is committed to providing our staff members with valuable and competitive benefits, as it is a core part of providing a strong overall employee experience. This position is eligible for health insurance coverage and a summary of our benefits can be found on our website. Please note that the listed benefits are generally available to active, non-temporary, full-time and part-time US-based employees who work at least 25 hours per week.