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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS
The Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State is hiring a part-time Research Assistant to support research on a project focused on the Demography of Latin America, family, and social networks. The research assistant will work with Dr. Amilcar Matos-Moreno and Dr. Alexis R. Santos for a year.
The project’s emphasis will be on the size and structures of family and social support available to older adults in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Costa Rica. The Research Assistant will be tasked with conducting literature reviews in journals published in English and Spanish, which will serve as the basis for a series of articles to be submitted for consideration in peer-reviewed journals. Opportunities for authorship will be available.
The majority of the time will be devoted to conducting the literature review(s), producing summaries for articles, and discussing key findings with the research team. The successful candidate must have a basic understanding of demographic concepts and family dynamics in Latin America. The candidate will receive mentoring on the project’s specific aims and desired goals.
At the end of the appointment, the Research Assistant will have:
- Gained an understanding of ongoing discussions about family structures in Latin America.
- Produced a literature review on issues related to kinlessness and family size.
- Collaborated in the writing of research articles.
- Produced a systematic review, which will be developed for submission to a peer-reviewed outlet.
The research team has ongoing projects in the United States, Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. Collaborations with other students are ongoing. The candidate will have the opportunity of networking with them. The Research Assistant will collaborate closely with the Research Team on this, and will gain exposure to other projects.
This is a part-time, temporary position from September 2025 until May 2025. The ideal candidate is an undergraduate student with previous training in Social Sciences (i.e. Economics, Social Science Research, or Sociology). Graduate training in Demography is ideal, but not necessary.
The Research Assistant will work the equivalent of 15 hours per week for the duration of the contract. Salary will be commensurate with experience and level of educational attainment. Opportunities for professional development within the PSU academic community will be available.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Any questions about this position can be addressed to Amilcar Matos-Moreno at [email protected].
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
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