Ivy City Research Assistant (Student)

American University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

American University in Washington, DC is seeking a part-time Research Assistant to work with Professor Meltzer on an environmental justice project in Ivy City, in partnership with Empower DC.

The RA will assist with note-taking during in-depth interviews, conduct coding and thematic analysis, help draft a peer-reviewed manuscript, prepare a poster and/or slides for academic conference presentations, and prepare materials for a community report-back of study findings.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled as an American University student.
• Part-time role, 20 hours per week.
• FWS eligibility applies to most student positions; some exceptions exist.
• Experience with interviews and qualitative analysis is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interview note taking.
• Transcription of interviews.
• Thematic analysis of interview data.
• Manuscript preparation.
• Conference poster/slide preparation.
• Community report-back event coordination.

Skills

Note-taking

Transcription

Thematic analysis

Manuscript drafting

Conference preparation

Community outreach reporting

Job description

Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community.

This position is available only to enrolled American University students.

Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University’s Office of Financial Aid.

Department:

College of Arts & Sciences

Time Type:

Part time

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Job Description:

Summary:

This research assistant will work with Professor Meltzer on data collection, analysis, and community report-back on a community-based environmental just research project in Ivy City in partnership with Empower DC. The RA will assist with note-taking during in-depth interviews with residents, conduct coding and thematic analysis, help draft a peer-reviewed manuscript, prepare a poster and/or slides for academic conference presentations, and prepare materials for a community report-back of study findings. This position runs from Sept 25, 2026 - December 15, 2026.

The RA will assist with note-taking, transcribing transcripts, and thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with residents of Ivy City on their environmental exposures. The RA will then assist with the write-up of a scientific manuscript and the preparation of posters and/or slides for academic conference presentations, as well as preparing for community report-back events with Empower DC.

Essential Functions:

• Interview note taking.
• Transcription.
• Thematic analysis.
• Manuscript preparation.
• Conference presentation preparation.
• Community report-back event.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Part-time.
• 20 hours per week.

Salary Range:

• $18.95 per hour.

Other Details

• This position is available only to enrolled American University students.

• American University is an E-Verify employer. Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively “Protected Bases”) in its programs and activities.