Research Assistant

New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A cultural organization is seeking to hire 1-2 Research Assistants to conduct thorough literature reviews. This role allows for practical experience in academic writing, literature review creation, and presenting evidence. Successful candidates will work directly with the Senior Director and may collaborate in other projects. The position is remote-eligible, with a payment of $28.35 per hour, approximately 10 hours per week from March to June 2026.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to high ethical standards.
• Understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Ability to communicate with diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews for research projects.
• Prepare manuscripts and present findings.
• Weekly meetings for mentorship and solutioning.

Skills

Curiosity and self-starting attitude

Experience with graduate-level literature reviews

Project management skills

Communication of complex concepts

Job description

About The Colton Institute At NJPAC

The Colton Institute of Research and Training at NJPAC is a hub of programmatic and scholarly innovation in education, public health, community engagement, and professional training. We pay particular attention to the ways that engaging in various human‑centered, arts‑based programs influence people throughout the lifespan. We are interested in how such engagement serves today’s young people, classroom educators, teaching artists, healthcare practitioners, and community members in New Jersey and beyond.

About The Role

We seek to hire 1–2 Research Assistants to conduct thorough literature reviews that will inform our ongoing and planned research projects. In so doing, these Research Assistants will gain practical experience in “academic” writing, literature review creation, and presenting scholarly evidence in succinct and digestible formats. There is also an opportunity to contribute to study design and manuscript preparation, depending on the candidates’ expertise. All Research Assistants report directly to the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation, though successful candidates interested in public health will also collaborate with the Assistant Vice President of Arts & Well‑Being. These positions are remote‑eligible.

Ongoing and Planned Projects

Arts Education

• Arts Integration
• Performing Arts Education
• Teaching Artist Preparation
• Professional Learning for In‑Service Teachers
• (Arts) Education in Greater Newark, 1980–present

Arts & Well‑Being

• Social/Arts Prescribing
• Arts Uses for Returning Citizens

Key Responsibilities

Create Literature Reviews + Matrices (≥90%)

• Take detailed notes from literature related to at least three ongoing and/or planned projects.
• Create an article‑length (~25 pages) scoping review of at least two topics related to ongoing or planned research projects.
• Meet weekly with the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation to discuss progress, practice distilling key findings, and for regular mentorship/solutioning.

Manuscript Preparation, Conferencing, and Other “Professionalization” Items (≤10%)

• Potential to grow in various impact‑focused ways, including data analysis, “academic” writing, publishing, conference presenting, and other established dissemination formats.

Qualifications And Expectations

To apply, please submit a résumé or CV and one writing sample (e.g., a course paper, publication, et cetera).

• Demonstrated commitment to high ethical standards
• Demonstrated and internalized understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice
• A curious self‑started with the ability and willingness to try and learn new things
• Experience writing graduate‑level and/or publishable literature reviews
• Content‑area experience and/or strong interest in at least one of the following:
• Urban Education
• Arts Education (performance preferred)
• Arts and Health
• Socioemotional Learning
• Education Policy
• Teacher Preparation
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail
• Comfort with communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences
• “Academic” writing and presentation experience a plus
• Ability to travel occasionally to Newark, NJ a plus

Anticipated Salary

• $28.35 per hour, ~10 hours per week between March 2026—June 2026 (~16 weeks).
• These positions have the potential for renewal.

Supervisor Line

Direct Supervisor: Senior Director of Research and Evaluation