Evidence Synthesis Fellow, Nutrition

Role: The Nutrition Evidence Synthesis Fellow will update  the evidence review conducted in 2023 on simplified approaches. Based on this updated review, they will create an on-line interactive map that allows the users to have a quick overview of studies conducted on different simplifications and their top-line findings of these as well as  browse the studies by country, region, continent and intervention. Finally, the student will prepare a practitioner (Field Exchange) article on the evidence to date on different simplifications, inviting the readers to access the on-line map which will aim to be updated regularly with data from any novel studies. 

On the update to the evidence review, the student will be working independently with regular check-ins with the Nutrition Researcher to agree on key findings to be highlighted. The Nutrition Researcher will furthermore support the student with the development of the map which will be created in an existing mapping software such as KUMU or EppiMapper (to be determined). IT support will be sought to add the map to an existing website.  They will also work with Technical Advisors and Advocacy Advisors to ensure a design that the map is fit for readers. For the practitioner article, the student will work with the Nutrition Researchers and with ENN counterparts to construct an article that fits with the journal interest and summarizes the key evidence in a concise form. 

The fellow will also play an important role in ensuring the wider Nutrition team at the IRC is aware of any new and emerging evidence by sharing monthly research summaries.  

Potential deliverables: 

• An updated evidence review on simplified approaches 
• A functional, interactive on-line map presenting the evidence produced on different simplifications in different settings 
• (If time allows/to be completed during potential extension) A practitioner facing article that summarizes evidence to date and introduces the reader to the interactive on-line map  

Potential travel involved: No travel will be involved for this position.

Desired Skills:

• Experience with summarizing evidence via literature reviews or other  
• Background in public health or other relevant medical science field

Preferred skills: 

• Experience with building web-pages or other on-line/software tools 
• Experience drafting and publishing practitioner articles or blog posts 
• Experience in creating evidence maps 

Requirements: Students must be a matriculated graduate or Ph.D. student at The New School. Fellows are hired as Research Associates by The New School.

Work Environment: This fellowship will work with the Airbel Impact Lab based in the IRC’s HQ in New York City. While this fellowship is remote, all Fellows must be physically located in the US.

Fellowship Length: This fellowship carries a maximum of 20 hours/week during the Summer 2025 semester (May 17, 2025 – August 24, 2025). Continuation into Fall 2025 is potentially available.

How to apply: The deadline to apply is March 17, 2025. Please submit one PDF document containing a cover letter, CV/resume, and two work samples (writing and/or design portfolio – 5 pages maximum per sample) to Catherine McGahan, McGahanC@newschool.edu.

Interviews will be conducted in mid-March via Zoom.

Team: Airbel Impact Lab, Research and Innovation at the IRC. The Airbel Impact Lab designs, tests, and scales life-changing cost-effective solutions for people affected by conflict and disaster. By applying the IRC’s deep technical expertise and field experience with a range of skills from the behavioral sciences, human-centered design, research, and multi-disciplinary problem-solving in humanitarian contexts, we work to develop breakthrough solutions that combine creativity and rigor, openness and expertise, and a desire to think afresh with the experience of a large-scale implementing organization. Within Airbel, the Best Use of Resources team provides analysis and decision-making support to improve the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of IRC programs.

The Nutrition Research team at the IRC’s Airbel Impact Lab: Acute malnutrition, affects approximately 45 million children globally. Proven solutions exist and yet less than 20% of children affected have access to treatment. Since 2015, the IRC has been engaged in research to optimize treatment of acute malnutrition globally by leading the design and testing of simplified approaches to scale treatment of acute malnutrition with the overall objective to increase access to treatment. The IRC alone has produced more than 15 peer-reviewed articles on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and stakeholder views on different simplifications while partners have simultaneously contributed to more than 30 pieces of evidence on these simplifications. In 2023, the IRC produced a review of all the existing evidence underlying the different simplifications which highlighted the important number of studies performed. Since then, many more pieces of evidence have been published strengthening further the evidence base behind the use of simplified approaches to increase the number of children treated in a cost-effective way.