Undergraduate Research Impact and Communications Assistant

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• 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

The Workforce Education and Development program in Penn State's Department of Learning and Performance Systems is seeking an undergraduate student to help document and communicate the impact of LifeCraft, an AI-augmented career development platform developed at Penn State and currently deployed in WFED 119 Career Planning and Life Design.

This position sits at the intersection of research and communication. The student will help build the evidence base showing what the platform does for the people who use it, and then translate that evidence into clear, accurate materials for grant proposals, presentations, and external audiences. It is an opportunity to see how a university research project moves toward real-world use, and to gain experience in research methods, data analysis and visualization, and science communication.

Compensation: $15 per hour Expected Commitment: Approximately 6 to 8 hours per week, up to 100 hours total for the appointment Period: Fall 2026, with possible extension into Spring 2027 contingent on funding and performance Location: University Park; some hybrid scheduling possible

Responsibilities

• Assemble and maintain an organized evidence base of LifeCraft impact data, including pre/post course outcomes, platform usage data, participant feedback, and testimonials.
• Assist with administering surveys and short structured interviews under the project's approved IRB protocol and the direction of the principal investigator.
• Verify that a signed media release is on file before conducting any recorded interview or capturing photographs or video of a participant, and maintain accurate release records.
• Conduct descriptive analysis of pre/post data and produce clear tables, charts, and summaries.
• Draft impact briefs, case studies, and one-page summaries suitable for grant proposals, including submissions to the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences.
• Prepare communication materials, including slide content, web copy, and short-form video or graphics, that present findings accurately to non-specialist audiences. Identifiable participant material may be used only where a current media release permits it.
• Support documentation of customer discovery interviews conducted through the NSF I-Corps program.
• Maintain a searchable library of quotes, figures, and results so that evidence can be reused quickly across proposals and presentations.
• Track comparable platforms and programs to help position the project's contribution.
• Handle all participant data in accordance with University policy, FERPA, and the governing IRB protocol.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong writing skills, particularly the ability to explain findings clearly to a general audience.
• Comfort working with data: spreadsheets, descriptive statistics, and basic charting. Experience with R, Python, SPSS, or similar tools is welcome but not required.
• Familiarity with survey platforms such as Qualtrics.
• Experience with visual communication tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud is desirable but not required.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and keep organized records.
• Careful, consistent handling of consent and release documentation, and sound judgment and discretion with participant information.
• Interest in one or more of: career development, workforce education, educational technology, human resource development, research methods, marketing communications, or entrepreneurship.

This position is open to Penn State undergraduate students in any major. Students who have completed WFED 119 Career Planning and Life Design, or who have coursework in workforce education, psychology, communications, marketing, or data analysis, are encouraged to apply. No single background is required.

Application Materials

Interested students should submit:

• A brief statement describing their interest in the position and what they hope to gain from it.
• A résumé.
• One writing sample of any length that shows how they explain something to a reader who is not an expert. This could be a paper, article, blog post, or report excerpt.
• Optional: one example of visual or data communication work, such as a chart, infographic, slide, or short video.
• Their anticipated weekly availability for Fall 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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