Law and/or Graduate Student - Part-Time Research Assistant

Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Penn State University in University Park is seeking a law/graduate student research assistant to support a project cataloguing state immigration policies across the United States from 1989-2026. The RA will read through and code state bills pertaining to immigrants and immigration, and enter the data into a structured spreadsheet.

The position runs for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 with the possibility of extension into Summer 2027.

Qualifications

• Interest in U.S. immigration law or policy.
• Familiarity with Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• Strong attention to detail and independence.

Responsibilities

• Read state legislation on immigrants/immigration.
• Code legislation using a consistent protocol.
• Enter coded data into a structured spreadsheet.

Skills

Excel/Sheets

Attention to detail

Data entry

Communication

Independence

Education

Law/Policy graduate student

Graduate student

Tools

Google Sheets

Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants .JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTSThe Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education is seeking a law and/or graduate student research assistant to support a project to create a database cataloguing state immigration policies across the United States from 1989-2026. The RA will work directly with the study PI and a team of RAs to clean and code state legislative data. The RA will specifically work with the PI to read through and code state bills pertaining to immigrants and immigration. This position is for both the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters, with the possibility of extension into summer 2027. The RA’s tasks will include the following:Read state legislation on immigrants/immigration.Systematically code legislation for a series of indicators following an established coding protocol.Enter the coded information into a structured spreadsheetAssist in cleaning collected state legislative data, checking for accuracy and consistency.Communicate regularly with the PI on progress and participate in regular team meetings.Required qualifications:Interest and/or formal specialization in U.S. immigration law, social/public policy.Interest in gaining familiarity with social science and/or legal/legislative research.General familiarity with Excel and/or Google Sheets.Excellent self-management skills.Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and stay organized with minimal day-to-day supervision.Strong attention to detail and comfort with repetitive, careful data work.Strong written and oral communication skills.Preferred qualifications:Prior research assistant experience involving data entry/management.Experience with social science and/or legal/legislative research.How to applyPlease include a current resume/CV, and one or two paragraphs detailing your interest in the position and any relevant experience.Candidates who advance to the next stage in the hiring process will be contacted to schedule a 30-45 minute interview and will be asked to complete a sample data coding exercise.BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCESEmployment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICSPursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .EEO IS THE LAWPenn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.Federal Contractors Labor Law PosterPA State Labor Law PosterPenn State PoliciesCopyright InformationHotlines