Undergraduate Research Assistant

The Research Institute for Social Equity (RISE) in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs invites applications for an Undergraduate Research Assistant. This position assists with a variety of project functions and tasks to help deliver successful project outcomes. RISE advances racial equity and social justice through multidisciplinary scholarship, research, training, and engagement. The goal of the Research Institute for Social Equity is to be the national leader in advancing social justice to inform public policy, governance, and practice to improve conditions for marginalized voices within our society, including communities of color, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, incarcerated populations, survivors of domestic violence, and women.

The Wilder School's mission is to:

· Engage, teach and inspire students and leaders to understand and solve challenges in our world.

· Advance research that informs public policy and decision-making to improve our communities.

· Collaborate with communities through innovative partnerships to enhance the quality of life.

The Wilder School's vision is to be the premier resource for public policy expertise and social equity in public safety, governance, and economic and community development. The 2022 U.S. News and World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 38 and tied for No.1 in Virginia. The School is also ranked No. 19 in Social Policy, No. 28 in Urban Policy, and No. 34 in Public Management and Leadership. The Wilder School has over 1,500 students and more than 11,000 alumni, with an established environment where diverse perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society unites these perspectives together. Our academic excellence attracts the highest quality faculty, staff, and students, and our graduates are leaders in their professions.

The Wilder School’s location in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined with our proximity to Washington, DC, provides numerous opportunities for engaged scholarship, teaching and community engagement activities. A creative, interdisciplinary School with both academic programs and training/research centers in the social sciences and professional arenas, we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, providing students and faculty with the knowledge, skills, opportunities, and experience necessary for success.

For additional information about the Wilder School, please visit our website at https://wilder.vcu.edu/ .

General Job Duties:

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

· Provide support to research activities (e.g., participant recruitment and data entry);

· Conduct literature reviews and data searches;

· Assist in data collection and entry in SPSS and Excel;

· Transcribing qualitative data;

· Building surveys on electronic platforms such as Qualtrics and REDCap;

· Meet with research team and maintain ongoing communication on the quality of the assistant's performance;

· Manuscript and report references and citation formatting; and

· Performs other related duties as required.

This work happens in coordination with overall goals and objectives of RISE .

This position may also perform functions on complex web-based and mail survey projects to include:

· Literature search on topical or methodological issues.

· Documentation of final instrument.

· Cleaning and preparing data and documentation for transfer to clients.

· Performing data analyses as assigned.

· Preparing and participating in project briefings and training sessions.

· Providing support when the Research Institute for Social Equity responds to requests for proposals .

This position may work on multiple, diverse, research projects.

The job involves up to 20 hours per week.

This position depends on the availability of grant funding.

Minimum Hiring Standards:

Degree work/credits in Psychology, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Women’s Studies, Urban and Regional Studies, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Political Science, Public Administration, Honor College Students or related fields.

· Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

· Strong written, verbal and presentation communication skills

· Willingness to learn basic research methods, such as literature searches, data entry, and data collection.

· Works well independently.

· Strong in meeting direct time constraints.

· Ability to support a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so at VCU.

Preferred Hiring Standards:

· Completion of at least one semester of a research methods and/or statistics course.

· Work experience in a university-based survey and/or evaluation research unit.

· Experience with data collection/analysis and literature reviews.

· Experience with the Microsoft Office Suite.

· Experience with IBM SPSS.

· Experience with Qualtrics.

· Understanding of staffing and work flow in a university-based research unit.

· Direct work experience with various social science research methodologies, including sampling, research design, data collection, data management, and writing technical research reports.

· Strong in multi-tasking in a fast paced, non-hierarchical atmosphere.

Typical Physical and Cognitive Requirements

Physical Demands and Activities (Essential):
· Light lifting (<20 lbs.)
· Pushing/pulling
· Standing
· Sitting

Emotional Demands (Essential):
· Fast pace/Average pace
· Multiple stimuli
· Frequent change
· Intense customer interaction

Mental/Sensory Demands (Essential):

· Memory

· Reading

· Reasoning

· Hearing

· Logic

· Analyzing

· Verbal communication

· Written Communication

Application Submission/Other Information:

All applications should include a cover letter and a detailed resume with the names and contact information of three professional references. A resume does not take the place of work experiences on the application.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

“Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability”.

Salary Range: $12.00 - $16.00



Position Details:

Department: Research Institute for Social Equity; L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Employment Type: H1 - Hourly
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 100
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt



Contact Information:

Contact Name: Jacklyn Cheely

Contact Email: Cheelyj@vcu.edu

Contact Phone: 804-827-1554