Research Assistant

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Research Assistant to support new Penn State faculty-led research project. The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate who has demonstrated strong communication and organizational skills, attention to detail and the ability to work independently and as a team, manage time and meet deadlines, with some background in humanities and/or the social sciences. The Research Assistant will communicate with potential study respondents, conduct comprehensive literature reviews (without the use of AI in the writing process or written documents), prepare, moderate, and transcribe interviews, and may be asked to assist in analyzing data. The Research Assistant is required to complete Human Subjects training prior to employment. The Research Assistant will play a critical role in ensuring project milestones are met and research recordkeeping, and submitted written work is accurate.

Key Responsibilities

• Literature Reviews: Conduct thorough searches of academic journals, databases, and publications to identify relevant literature, synthesize findings, and highlight key themes.
• Interview Coordination & Execution: Coordinate participant schedules, conduct or moderate interviews, and accurately transcribe or summarize findings.
• Data Management: Maintain confidentiality of interview materials and storage of documents as directed.
• Project Support: Attend project meetings, maintain organized research files, and perform other research-related duties as assigned. 

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Humanities or Social Science fields within past 2 years.
• Research Skills: Demonstrated experience in conducting literature reviews and utilizing academic search databases (e.g., Google Scholar, PubMed, JSTOR).
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to interact professionally with diverse research participants and team members.
• Organization: Strong time management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and adhere to strict project deadlines.
• Software: Proficiency in MS Office, Zoom. 

Interested candidates should submit their resume/CV, a brief cover letter, and a non AI generated writing sample or list of references to Professor Sinfree Makoni, [email protected] by June 8, 2026.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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