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Field Research Associate (part-time) - Climate Resilience Project

We're Hiring: Field Research Associates – Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

ALLSET is recruiting at least two Field Research Associates to join an 18-month participatory climate resilience project in Rio Grande do Sul, beginning in late August 2026. AllSet is part of the Our Common Home global network of 20 entities.

This is an exciting opportunity for Master's and PhD students, early-career researchers, or professionals interested in participatory research, qualitative fieldwork, community engagement, climate resilience, disaster recovery, and local governance.

About ALLSET

ALLSET is a research organisation dedicated to studying how individuals and communities experience extreme weather. Its primary objective is to ensure that preparedness and recovery systems are designed around the practical realities that people face on the ground.

ALLSET's methodology traces the decision-making processes, trust dynamics, and sense-making that shape recovery. This work is deeply grounded in lived experience and locally embedded fieldwork to generate actionable, empirical evidence for decision-makers.

Our work also includes:

  • Central America: Research on drought resilience and water scarcity.

  • Indonesia: Longitudinal research on cascading disasters and community resilience.

We believe that extreme weather events will become more intense and more consequential in the years ahead. Our goal is to stay ahead of these challenges by generating insights that help respond more effectively, reduce the human and economic costs of disasters, and build stronger, more resilient communities.

About the Project

The project explores how communities and institutions recover from the devastating 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, with a particular focus on:

  • Trust between communities and institutions

  • Disaster communication

  • Institutional continuity and learning

  • Community-centred recovery

  • Participatory approaches to climate resilience

Working alongside an experienced international research team, you will support participatory research across four municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, helping communities and local institutions co-design more resilient approaches to disaster preparedness and recovery.

Timeline and Engagement

The project is expected to run over 18 months, with most intensive engagement concentrated during phase 1 (months 1-4), phase 2 (months 4-9) and phase 4 (months 15-18). The engagement includes travels to the target municipalities/regions and the following hours commitment:

Phase 1: approximately 70 hours

Phase 2: approximately 50 hours

Phase 3: approximately 24 hours

Phase 4: approximately 36 hours

Research Associates may be engaged:

● intermittently,

● by workshop cluster,

● or through a more embedded collaboration model.

The Role

As a Field Research Associate, you will work alongside an experienced international research team and contribute to all stages of the research process, including:

  • Facilitating participatory focus group discussions

  • Conducting qualitative and trauma-informed interviews

  • Undertaking field observations and community engagement

  • Supporting focus group discussions design and participatory activities

  • Analysing qualitative data and identifying emerging themes

  • Contributing to synthesis reports and research outputs

  • Working collaboratively with researchers, municipalities, and community stakeholders

We Are Looking For

We welcome applications from candidates with experience or a strong interest in:

  • Participatory research

  • Qualitative research methods

  • Community engagement

  • Sociology

  • Geography

  • Public policy

  • Environmental studies

  • Urban planning

  • Disaster risk reduction

  • Climate adaptation

  • Or related disciplines

Applicants should be comfortable working in English, as project coordination and reporting will be conducted in English, while fieldwork will take place in Brazilian Portuguese.

What We Offer

  • Fair compensation, with applicants invited to indicate their expected hourly rate

  • Coverage of all approved travel costs within Rio Grande do Sul

  • An opportunity to develop advanced participatory and qualitative research skills

  • Mentorship from an experienced international research team

  • The opportunity to contribute to research with tangible social impact, helping improve disaster preparedness, governance, and community recovery

Applications are encouraged from candidates based in Rio Grande do Sul or with strong knowledge of the region.

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