Research Associate, Digital Identity and e-KYC Research Programme (Fixed Term)

Location: Central Cambridge

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) is an international and interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the study of alternative finance, focusing on new financial instruments and channels of finance emerging outside of the traditional financial system in the areas of alternative financing channels, alternative approaches to credit analytics and alternative payment systems. 

The purpose of this position is to take a leading role in delivering first-of-its-kind empirical research on the economic and societal returns of electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) adoption across emerging markets in Africa and Southeast Asia. As part of the e-KYC Research Programme, you will contribute to country-level field research across three jurisdictions, quantitative economic modelling, and primary stakeholder data collection, generating evidence that will directly inform regulatory decision-making on digital identity and financial inclusion globally. The programme will be in collaboration with Financial Innovation for Impact (Fii), an international, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of scalable, sustainable, and evidence- based financial and regulatory innovation. The postholder will engage closely with Fii's research and policy staff. 

This involves the scoping, design, and execution of cost-benefit analyses and economic impact models, the conduct of stakeholder engagement with regulators, fintechs, banks, and digital identity service providers, and the production of empirical studies and policy briefs bridging academic rigour with practical policy relevance. You will assist in the preparation of reports for funding bodies and policy-oriented outputs for regulatory partners including central banks, financial supervisors, and international development organisations, as well as contributing to the preparation and delivery of capacity-building outputs and the broader dissemination of research findings. 

You should hold a PhD in Economics, Development Economics, Finance, Public Policy, or a closely related quantitative discipline, with demonstrated experience in applied economics and strong skills in cost-benefit analysis, impact evaluation, or economic modelling. You should bring knowledge on digital identity systems, KYC/AML frameworks, and financial inclusion challenges in emerging markets, alongside experience of primary qualitative or mixed-methods research including stakeholder interviews. Excellent communication skills are essential, including the ability to translate complex analysis for non-specialist policy audiences. 

The funds for this post are available for 1 year in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

Informal queries may be directed to hrsupport@jbs.cam.ac.uk. 

Please quote reference NS49459 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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