Research Assistantships

The Policy Monitoring/Interviewing Working Group of the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative is seeking to fill part-time Research Assistantship positions to help out with on-going studies of the “The EPA in the Age of Trump.” (More information on our work is available at https://envirodatagov.org/interviewing/). We are considering those with relevant doctoral degrees, graduate students and upper-level undergraduates with strong backgrounds in the environmental social sciences, humanities, sciences, or policy.

Research Assistantship positions will begin in early June and end in mid-to-late August.  These positions involve ten (.25 of full-time) to twenty (.5 of full-time) hours per week. Pay is $20/hour.  We expect to fill 2-3 of these positions for summer 2020.

While most expected work can be done remotely, regular attendance will be expected at periodic video conferences.

Successful applicants will have training and experience in the following areas:

  • conducting qualitative/oral history interviews, and transcribing, managing, and coding qualitative interview transcripts
  • evaluating, managing, and coding documents, including news reports and government documents, and writing complete and concise summaries of relevant documents
  • coursework in environmental policy, environmental law, history, sociology, anthropology, geography, environmental humanities, environmental sciences, or related disciplines
  • ability to maintain strict confidentiality when required
  • familiarity with Slack, Google Drive, and qualitative coding software (we use Dedoose) a plus

And take on at least one of the following activities:

  • helping to organize, edit or proof-read, anonymize and code transcripts of completed interviews;
  • fine-tuning a coding scheme for the interviews
  • read through and interpret agency documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, news media, and other sources, on topics such as enforcement declines, environmental justice, and children’s health
  • helping synthesize and write up reports based on all this information

Those wishing to apply should please send their CV and a 300-word statement of interest to Christopher Sellers chrissellersedgi@gmail.com, by May 7.  Join us to lend a hand in this exciting and timely project!