Research Assistant, Race & Markets Communications

American University; United States; On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

American University’s Race in the Marketplace Research Network (RIM) seeks a highly organized Research Assistant to support communications, digital platforms, projects, and day‑to‑day coordination. You will work with the four‑person core team and a broader network of scholars and partners.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer and dependable organizer who can manage multiple projects, follow up with collaborators, and engage thoughtfully in conversations about race, markets, and consumer

Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational, scheduling, and project‑coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and streams of feedback.
• Strong attention to detail, including accuracy in names, dates, links, formatting, and publication information.
• Ability to follow up consistently and communicate clearly when assignments or approval processes require clarification.
• Ability to work independently while keeping supervisors and collaborators informed.
• Ability to approach race‑related topics with care, respect, and a willingness to learn.
• Ability to coordinate with collaborators working in different locations and time zones.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, virtual‑meeting platforms, and social media.
• Willingness and ability to learn new digital tools.

Responsibilities

• Communications and Research Promotion: draft emails, announcements, updates; develop content for RIM’s social channels; promote publications and events; translate research into public content; track publications and communications opportunities.
• Website and Digital Content: update RIM site; create graphics or thumbnails; suggest improvements to site clarity.
• Project and Meeting Coordination: support multiple projects; create timelines, trackers, and planning docs; schedule meetings across time zones; prepare materials; document decisions and next steps.
• Administrative and Digital Systems Support: organize files; support Google Workspace administration; troubleshoot accounts and permissions; learn new tools to improve coordination; report progress to core team.

Skills

Communication

Organization

Scheduling

Time-zone coordination

Attention to detail

Independent work

Cross-time-zone coordination

Social media

Office software

Google Workspace

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Doodle

Zoom

Squarespace

Canva

Airtable

GForms

Job description

American University’s Race in the Marketplace Research Network (RIM) seeks a highly organized Research Assistant to support communications, digital platforms, projects, and day‑to‑day coordination. You will work with the four‑person core team and a broader network of scholars and partners.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer and dependable organizer who can manage multiple projects, follow up with collaborators, and engage thoughtfully in conversations about race, markets, and consumer