Qualitative Graduate Student Assistantship

The Human Exploitation and Resilience Initiative invites applications for three (3) qualitative/project management research assistantships at the NYU Marron Institute starting in Fall 2021. Graduate students (MS or PhD) from all disciplines and programs across NYU are welcome to apply, and we seek a diversity of disciplinary training, backgrounds, and perspectives. The qualitative research assistant positions are focused on project management, qualitative data collection methods and writing, so candidates with expertise in project management, case coding, survey development and administration, interviews and focus groups with vulnerable populations and writing policy briefs, technical reports and journal publications are particularly encouraged to apply. 

About the Human Exploitation and Resilience Initiative (HERI):

Led by Dr. Meredith Dank, HERI research primarily focuses on both US-based and international forced labor and human trafficking, in addition to other types of gender based violence.  There are currently several projects at HERI that are funded by the Department of State, the National Institute of Justice, National Science Foundation, in addition to private foundations.   Research Assistants will have an opportunity to work across several projects and assist the research team in providing new insight, knowledge, and opportunities for action. The positioning of the research assistant positions at the Marron Institute ensures that impact-driven projects are balanced with fundamental research advanced through widely-disseminated research that is transparent and reproducible. RAs can expect to:

• Work on one (or more) research projects as part of the HERI research team, including State Department funded projects focused on measuring the prevalence of forced labor in Costa Rica and Tanzania, a prevalence study on sex trafficking in Belize, a NIJ funded study on child labor and a NSF funded study on unstably housed youth and trafficking. 
• Assist with project management, program surveys into Qualtrics, administer surveys, assist with interviews and focus groups, code case files and assist with writing final deliverables.
• Contribute, as appropriate, to conference and journal publications. 

Qualifications:

• Project management experience
• Past field research experience focused on vulnerable populations, particularly survey administration
• Proficient in Qualtrics and Excel
• Highly organized and detail oriented
• Ability to effectively communicate in English, both orally and in writing
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus

To apply, please submit the following:

• CV
• A cover letter (no more than 1 page) summarizing your relevant experience and training, together with a statement of how the research assistant position would further your career goals.
• 2 page writing sample

Application materials should be emailed as a single PDF to mdank@nyu.edu no later than November 12, 2021. Research assistant positions are for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semester, with a possible extension into the Fall and Spring 2023 semesters.