Data Centers - Climate Resilience & Community Engagement Student Research Assistant (SRA) (Stud[...]

University of Virginia; University of Virginia (VA); On-site; USD 23,419 - 28,929; Part time

Job summary

The University of Virginia is seeking a part-time student to support a community-engaged research project on data center resilience in Loudoun County, Virginia. The role is 10-15 hrs/wk with a mix of remote work and in-person meetings at UVA offices.

Responsibilities include assisting community engagement, interviews, transcription and qualitative analysis, and creating visuals for reports and workshops. Ideal candidates have strong writing and communication skills and an interest in climate

Qualifications

• Interest in climate resilience, public policy, community engagement, or environmental justice.
• Strong writing, communication, and analytical skills.
• Ability to work with diverse community partners.
• Experience with, or desire to learn, about qualitative research and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with data analysis or qualitative coding helpful but not required.
• Graphic design or GIS mapping skills helpful but not required.
• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the community engagement process through project management support and support of fall workshops and future rounds interview and focus group.
• Interviewing, transcribing, qualitative data analysis (coding), and summary report drafting.
• Learn elements of the Equitable Collaboration Framework and complex facilitation as part of support to the Community Advisory Committee, the research team, and future workshops.
• Work on community engagement products such as data visualization and narrative for future Summary Reports or flyers/graphics/posters for workshops and focus groups.

Skills

Climate resilience

Public policy

Community engagement

Environmental justice

Writing & communication

Analytical skills

Qualitative research

Data analysis

Graphic design / GIS

Education

UVA student

Job description

Project Overview

Project: Living with Data Centers: Co-Producing a Framework for Climate, Community, and Infrastructure Resilience in Loudoun County, Virginia (Environmental Institute funded research project). This research project will examine how data center expansion impacts climate resilience, energy systems, water resources, and community well-being. By integrating community perspectives with technical analyses of grid reliability, life cycle cumulative impacts, spatial imprints, and economic tradeoffs, this project will co-produce, with decision-makers and county stakeholders, a first-of-its-kind localized study of the cumulative demands of data center development in Loudoun County, Virginia-- the world’s densest concentration of data centers. This location offers a critical case study for examining how the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure intersects with climate resilience.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the community engagement process through project management support and support of fall workshops and future rounds interview and focus group.
• Interviewing, transcribing, qualitative data analysis (coding), and summary report drafting.
• Learn elements of the Equitable Collaboration Framework and complex facilitation as part of support to the Community Advisory Committee, the research team, and future workshops.
• Work on community engagement products such as data visualization and narrative for future Summary Reports or flyers/graphics/posters for workshops and focus groups.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

• Interest in climate resilience, public policy, community engagement, or environmental justice.
• Strong writing, communication, and analytical skills.
• Ability to work with diverse community partners.
• Experience with, or desire to learn, about qualitative research and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with data analysis or qualitative coding helpful but not required.
• Graphic design or GIS mapping skills helpful but not required.
• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively.

Time Commitment

10-15 hrs/wk during the academic year, with a late July or early August start preferred. The role is partially remote and also includes some in-person meetings at our office (2400 Old Ivy Rd.) and on Grounds.

Compensation

Undergrads: $17/hr. Graduate students: $19-$21/hr.

Minimum Requirements

Resume and cover letter required.

Education

UVA student; Graduate student preferred.

Physical Demands

This role is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Contact

Questions related to this position may be directed to Kelly Altizer ([e-mail]).