R sig jobs - Feb 2013 - Job for a UN agency in Rome: R statistician with knowledge of entropy/bayesian methods

Hi


The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), based in
Rome, is in urgent need of an econometrican/statistican. The candidate will
be required to provide in the absence of primary information model-based
estimates of elements of utilization that enter our Food Balance Sheets
(see http://faostat3.fao.org/home/index.html#HOME).

We are therefore looking for two candidates who meet the following profile:

-Economist/statistician equipped with advanced econometric/statistical
skills and the ability to quickly master and apply new methods

-Competency in  R, or exceptional and transferrable programming skills

-Knowledge of Bayesian/entropy techniques would be an asset

-Knowledge of commodities would also be an advantage, or the ability to
progress quickly up a steep learning curve

-Ability to self-start, assume initiative and to multi-task

-Focus on delivery and on meeting tight deadlines

-Team-playing skills


The exact terms of reference can be discussed later. Importantly, we would
offer a consultancy on a 3 months renewable basis and there would be no
essential need to be on premises on a full-time basis. We will accord the
necessary flexibility to facilitate delivery.


If you are interested in applying please provide your CV along with an
answer to any one of the following two questions (200 words max):

-Food losses and waste account are thought to account for one-third of
global food production. How would you set about estimating the prevalence
of waste with limited prior information (some survey-based data are
available) taking stock of the determinants of phenomenon

-How can prior information be used to specify and estimate underdetermined
systems of equations

Please reply to: Adam.Prakash at fao.org.

Best regards


Matthieu Stigler

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