Aubrey Jolex

Analytical. Adaptive. Structured. Pragmatic. Strategic.

Transforming complex problems and evidence into solvable, actionable solutions.

Discover My Work

About Me

If you asked me to describe myself, I'd say I am analytical, adaptive, structured, pragmatic, and strategic. I apply this mindset to rigorous impact evaluation and data systems.

I specialize in the full research lifecycle; from designing RCT protocols and programming complex SurveyCTO instruments to conducting high-level econometric analysis in Stata and Python. My experience ranges from managing massive field operations (15,000+ household panel surveys at IPA) to leading technical market analysis that informs high-level policy (IFPRI).

But I am not just a technician. I focus on the "why" and "how" of evidence. How do we make rigorous methodology accessible? How do we ensure rigorous methods adapt to messy real-world implementation? I solve these problems to help organizations navigate uncertainty and drive meaningful social impact.

Beyond the data, I am deeply committed to capacity building and knowledge transfer. I believe that sustainable impact comes from empowering teams—mentoring junior researchers, streamlining data workflows, and fostering a culture of intellectual honesty where evidence is not just collected, but understood and owned by those who use it.

Professional Experience

Senior Research Associate

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) | Manila, Philippines

01/2025 – Present

  • Supervise fieldwork for large-scale panel surveys on socioeconomic development.
  • Oversee budgeting, workplans, sampling strategy, and SurveyCTO programming.
  • Manage junior research staff and ensure data quality and donor reporting.
  • Guide study design and implementation for impact evaluations.

Research Associate

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) | Manila, Philippines

01/2022 – 05/2025

  • Co-led research for a panel survey tracking 15,000+ households across 500 communities.
  • Designed questionnaires, managed sampling, pilots, and data collection.
  • Hired and co-managed over 100 field staff, ensuring rigorous protocols.

Research Analyst

IFPRI | Lilongwe, Malawi

11/2020 – 11/2022

  • Led price monitoring of agricultural commodities; recognized expert on market movements.
  • Presented to the Donor Committee in Agriculture and Food Security (DCAFS), securing future funding.
  • Authored policy briefs and monthly maize market reports.

Research Fellow

IITA | Lilongwe, Malawi

06/2019 – 06/2020

  • Managed IFAD-CARE funded research on ICT and youth agribusiness.
  • Won highly competitive research grant for "Youth Researching Youth".
  • Designed and conducted mixed-methods research in rural Malawi.

Technical Skills

Stata

Advanced Data Analysis

Python

Data Science & Automation

SurveyCTO

Complex ODM & Logic

LaTeX

Academic Publishing

Selected Publications

Baulch, B., Kok, S. K., & Jolex, A. (2024). A New Approach to Monitoring Farmer Prices: Method and an Application to Malawi. The Journal of Development Studies, 60(6), 874–894.

Chiwaula, L., ... & Jolex, A. (2024). Welfare impacts of seasonal maize price fluctuations in Malawi.

Jolex, Aubrey (2024). Influence of agricultural extension services on technical efficiency of maize farmers in Malawi. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Vol. 17 Issue 2.

Jolex A, Kaluwa B (2022). Crowding Out Effects of Alcohol Consumption Expenditure on Household Resource Allocation in Malawi. PLoS ONE 17(2).

Jolex, A., & Tufa, A. (2022). The Effect of ICT Use on the Profitability of Young Agripreneurs in Malawi. Sustainability, 14(5).