Part-Time Student Research Assistant, Qualitative Research

Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition subsidy

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Employee assistance

Job summary

Indiana University Bloomington’s O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs seeks a Research Assistant to support a qualitative analysis project on mobile money and digital financial technologies. You will code interview data, identify themes, and help organize findings under PI guidance.

The position is limited-term for ~3 months, part-time, with responsibilities including memo preparation, data management, and manuscript preparation support.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled as a graduate student in a social science or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in qualitative research or qualitative data analysis.
• Experience working as part of a research team on a qualitative or mixed-methods project.
• Proficient communication skills.
• Ability to code and analyze qualitative data, particularly interview data.

Responsibilities

• Support qualitative data analysis and coding of interview data.
• Analyze data using inductive and thematic coding methods.
• Prepare analytic memos and update codebooks.
• Summarize qualitative findings for reports and presentations.
• Manage qualitative data per human subjects requirements.
• Participate in regular research meetings and contribute to dissemination.

Skills

Communication

Qualitative analysis

Coding qualitative data

Inductive analysis

Tech/FinTech research

Education

Graduate student enrollment in a social science or related field

Job description

THE O'NEILL SCHOOL - BL SPEA (BL-SPEA-IUBLA)

The O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs works to build a better world by stewarding the development of welcoming societies, democratic governance, and a healthy, sustainable environment. With partners across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, we pursue education, scholarship, and civic engagement at the crossroads of policy, science and management. We give our students the knowledge and skills to have a significant impact around the globe.

Our Values

• Excellence - Aiming to be the best in all that we do and developing the professional and personal capabilities necessary to improve the world through our work.
• Meaning and impact - Pursuing careers and service that add purpose and meaning to our lives, encouraging others to do so, and improving quality of life for individuals and societies.
• Ongoing learning - Continuously developing the skills, knowledge, experience, and sound judgment necessary for wise and informed decision-making.
• Well-being - Emphasizing the well-being and safety of individuals and the health of our natural environment as essential for thriving communities and well-functioning, just societies.

The Research Assistant will support a research project examining people's experiences with mobile money and digital financial technologies. The primary responsibility of this position is qualitative data analysis, including coding interview data, identifying and documenting emerging themes, and contributing to the organization and synthesis of qualitative findings.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Works under the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI) and participates in regular discussions to develop and refine the project's coding framework and interpretation of findings.
• Analyzes interview data and qualitative research data using inductive and thematic coding methods to identify patterns, themes, and emerging insights that support project objectives.
• Utilizes established codebooks and coding protocols while contributing to the ongoing refinement of coding frameworks as new themes and findings emerge.
• Prepares and maintains analytic memos, coding records, codebook updates, and other documentation to ensure methodological rigor, transparency, and consistency throughout the research process.
• Participates in regular research meetings to discuss findings, align coding approaches, resolve analytical questions, and contribute to interpretation of qualitative data.
• Summarizes qualitative findings and supporting evidence for research reports, presentations, manuscripts, and other scholarly or professional dissemination activities.
• Manages qualitative data using research software and secures data systems while adhering to human subjects research requirements and institutional compliance standards.
• May contribute to the preparation of research outputs, including scholarly manuscripts and presentations.

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Currently enrolled as a graduate student pursuing a degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Information Science, Communication, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health, Development Studies, or another social science or related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 2 years experience conducting qualitative research or qualitative data analysis.
• Experience working as part of a research team on a qualitative or mixed-methods research project.

Skills

Required

• Proficient communication skills.
• Experience conducting qualitative analysis and can apply established qualitative coding practices with limited methodological training.
• Ability to code and analyze qualitative data, particularly interview or focus group data.
• Ability to conducting inductive or thematic qualitative analysis.
• Ability to analyze research concerning technology use, financial technologies, digital platforms, or related social and technological topics.

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Must be able to complete required human subjects research training (CITI) and any other required research compliance training before accessing study data.

This is a limited-term position. The anticipated duration of the appointment is approximately 3 months from the start date.

O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Indiana University (IU) Bloomington Campus

$16.00 per hour

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Career Level: Part Time Employee

FLSA: Nonexempt

Job Function: Part Time Employee

Job Family: Part Time Student Employee

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination.

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