Field Research Specialist - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Nepal - 10 months
Peace Corps
United States
Posted on May 16, 2025
About The Job
Projected Departure
May 9, 2026
Duration
10 months
ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Project description
The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) at Tribhuwan University and Agriculture Knowledge Centers (AKCs) in Lamjung and Arghakhanchi Districts in Nepal have requested the support of Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRVs) to serve as Field Research Specialists. Over 66% of Nepal’s population takes part in agriculture, but weak linkages between research, farmer, extension, and education agencies and poor extension services have been identified as some of the major bottlenecks hindering adoption of new agricultural technologies. IAAS and ACKs have identified problem-based field research as one of the key areas that they want to improve.
The PCRVs will work closely with the assigned counterpart and supervisor to assess ongoing research activities, facilitate training sessions on research design and implementation, and provide onsite mentoring and coaching to the staff undertaking field-level research. The PCRVs may also assess ongoing market research activities in the business incubation center, agriculture based developed technologies and their adaptation status and collaborate with faculty on designing standard business incubation protocols for prioritized agricultural startup businesses.
Candidates selected for this position will be arriving in Nepal together as a group, so while the departure dates for the whole group could change, dates cannot be changed for individual candidates.
Required Skills
Projected Departure
May 9, 2026
Duration
10 months
ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.
Project description
The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) at Tribhuwan University and Agriculture Knowledge Centers (AKCs) in Lamjung and Arghakhanchi Districts in Nepal have requested the support of Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRVs) to serve as Field Research Specialists. Over 66% of Nepal’s population takes part in agriculture, but weak linkages between research, farmer, extension, and education agencies and poor extension services have been identified as some of the major bottlenecks hindering adoption of new agricultural technologies. IAAS and ACKs have identified problem-based field research as one of the key areas that they want to improve.
The PCRVs will work closely with the assigned counterpart and supervisor to assess ongoing research activities, facilitate training sessions on research design and implementation, and provide onsite mentoring and coaching to the staff undertaking field-level research. The PCRVs may also assess ongoing market research activities in the business incubation center, agriculture based developed technologies and their adaptation status and collaborate with faculty on designing standard business incubation protocols for prioritized agricultural startup businesses.
Candidates selected for this position will be arriving in Nepal together as a group, so while the departure dates for the whole group could change, dates cannot be changed for individual candidates.
Required Skills
- BA/BS in agriculture, agriculture economics, statistics, research techniques and information science, chemistry, microbiology, or other laboratory science
- 3 or more years of work experience in conducting agriculture-research activities.
- 2 or more years in the use of different statistical tools for analysis and modelling.
- Understanding of the peer-review, editing, and publication process. experience in monitoring and evaluation,
- Knowledge of statistical data analysis, crop research and procedures for data collection. Specialized skills as relevant; and experience handling lab equipment, tools, and chemicals in a lab setting.