Research Assistant

Food waste undermines the human right to adequate food and poses major environmental, economic, and social challenges. Despite commitments like Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 12.3 which aims to “halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses” by 2030, around 1.3 billion tonnes of food are lost or wasted each year, largely at the household level. Existing interventions have had only moderate success, highlighting the need to better understand behavioural drivers and barriers. This doctoral research being conducted in fulfillment of the Interdisciplinary PhD Program of Monash University titled “Rethinking Food Waste: An Analysis of Household Food Waste Reduction Behaviours in the Global South using a Systems Thinking Approach,” examines household food waste in the Philippines using a multi-level, systems-oriented framework, addressing gaps in Global South research. It explores how micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors shape behaviours such as meal planning, food storage, and leftover reuse, guided by Boulet et al. (2021). Using systems mapping, key informant interviews, community workshops, a household survey, and a design thinking workshop, it aims to generate context-specific insights into complex behavioural dynamics. Adopting a pragmatic, mixed-methods sequential design, the research comprises three studies: (1) systems mapping of key factors and actors, (2) multi-level analysis of household survey data, and (3) co-design of context-sensitive interventions informed by earlier findings. Overall, the research seeks to inform more responsive, effective, and culturally relevant interventions to reduce food waste and strengthen food security and sustainability efforts. A Research Assistant is needed to assist part-time (approx. 15 to 20 hours per week) in the conduct of this research. The Research Associate shall be managed directly by the Doctoral Researcher. Responsibilities • Encode/transcribe, clean, code, and/or summarize workshop and key informant interview (KII) data; • Assist with administrative tasks (i.e. preparation of monitoring sheets, workshop worksheets, and activity materials); • Assist with communication (i.e., drafting of letters and correspondence with local government unit contacts, and documentation of activities); • Assist in the facilitation of community workshops. Qualifications and Capabilities • Graduate of a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Psychology, Sociology, or other related fields. • Experience in community engagement, workshop facilitation, or participatory research activities is preferred. • At least one (1) year experience in data management and analysis, both qualitative and quantitative. • Experience with Microsoft Office, NVivo, and at least one quantitative analysis software package (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R). • Willing to work part-time for a total of 480 hours spread over eight (8) months. • Willing to travel for field work (potential area in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao). • Flexible to work or attend meetings, data-related sessions, or writing sessions remotely or in-person. • Being able to understand Cebuano/Bisaya is preferred. Desired Competencies • Strong attention to detail • Excellent written communication • Ability to work independently • Cultural sensitivity • Interest in food systems, sustainability, or behavioural research Compensation • PhP 250/hour × 480 hours = PhP 120,000 total • Airfare, meals, and accommodation during field work will be covered by the project.