TISS - Research Associate (Mumbai)

Call for Applications: Research Associate 

Project: Water Safety, Drowning Mitigation and Community Resilience in Climate Change in Maharashtra 

A collaborative study between the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai 

Participating Centres/Schools

• Centre for Health and Mental Health (CHMH), School of Social Work, TISS 
• Centre for Community Organisation and Development Practice (CODP), School of Social Work, TISS 
• Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies (JTSDS), TISS 

About the Project This collaborative study examines the interlinkages between climate change, environmental hazards, and drowning risk in Maharashtra. The project adopts a participatory and community-based approach to risk assessment, planning, and local adaptation strategies, with the aim of informing evidence-based prevention and resilience-building measures.

Position 1: Research Associate 

Location: Mumbai, with frequent field travel to Sindhudurg, Sangli, and Nagpur 

Duration: 7 months (till December 2026), extendable up to December 2027 

₹ Remuneration: 75,000 per month (consolidated) 

Joining: Immediate 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead and contribute to qualitative and action research components of the project 
• Conduct and supervise field-based data collection, including interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory methods in Nagpur, Sangli, and Sindhudurg 
• Engage with community stakeholders, local governance institutions, and civil society organisations 
• Support the design and facilitation of participatory workshops (Plan-Do – Study -Act cycles) 
• Monitor the implementation to the Do-Study-Act phases in the three districts
• Analyse qualitative and quantitative data and contribute to report writing and documentation
• Prepare high-quality academic and policy-oriented outputs 
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams at TISS and UEA

Essential Qualifications and Skills 

• PhD in Social Work, Public Health, Environmental Sciences, Geography or a related discipline 
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative and action research approaches 
• Fluency in Marathi and English (both written and spoken) 
• Excellent academic writing and analytical skills 
• Experience working with communities and in field-based research settings 
• Ability to work independently and within a collaborative research environment 
• Willingness to travel extensively for fieldwork 

Desirable 

• Prior experience in research related to health, disasters, climate change, or community resilience 
• Familiarity with participatory and community-based methodologies 
• Experience in interdisciplinary research projects

Application Process 

Interested candidates may send their CV (maximum 3 pages) and a brief statement of purpose/interest (up to 500 words) outlining relevant experience and motivation to: brinelledsouza@tiss.ac.in, kamblemahesh@tiss.ac.in and r_mammen@tiss.ac.in 

Subject line: 

Application – Research Associate (Climate Change and Water Safety Study in Maharashtra) 

Last Date to Apply: 30th May 2026 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview (online/offline) 

For more details: https://tiss.ac.in/project-positions/

This call offers an opportunity to engage with a dynamic, interdisciplinary research initiative that combines academic rigour with field-based engagement and policy relevance.

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