Research Assistant – Social Media & Audience Growth

The New School; United States; Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

The New School seeks a student or junior researcher to support development and audience-building for an independent documentary exploring beauty, culture, identity, and the global beauty industry. You will focus on building social media traction ahead of fundraising, production, and release.

Hybrid/Remote work with occasional on-campus presence; hourly rate of $31.37/hour. You will research TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms, identify collaborators, and develop content themes to

Qualifications

• This is ideal for a student in marketing, communications, media studies, fashion, film, journalism, cultural studies, or a related field who understands how culture moves online and is genuinely interested in social media as a research and audience-building tool.
• A strong understanding of TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and emerging social platforms.
• Excellent online research skills.
• A good instinct for what makes people watch, share, comment, and participate.
• Strong awareness of contemporary beauty, fashion, media, and internet culture.
• An ability to identify trends early rather than simply report on trends that are already established.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• An ability to translate research into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Curiosity about how communities form and how ideas gain cultural traction online.
• Experience creating social content, managing an account, researching creators, working with analytics, or growing an online community is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Research current conversations, trends, creators, communities, and cultural moments related to beauty, identity, aesthetics, body image, fashion, and contemporary culture.
• Identify topics and angles with strong potential for organic social engagement.
• Research relevant TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and other online communities.
• Identify creators, journalists, experts, commentators, and potential collaborators who could help expand the documentary's reach.
• Track emerging conversations and cultural shifts that could provide entry points for the film.
• Analyze successful documentary, media, beauty, and culture accounts to understand what drives engagement and audience growth.
• Research formats, hooks, narratives, and content structures that perform particularly well on social platforms.
• Help identify potential audience segments and the communities where they already gather online.
• Build and maintain lists of creators, accounts, publications, podcasts, communities, and potential amplification partners.
• Develop recommendations for content themes, posting opportunities, collaborations, and audience-building experiments.
• Track performance of social content and help identify what is generating the strongest response.

Skills

Social media research

TikTok/Instagram/YouTube knowledge

Online communities research

Content strategy recommendations

Analytical mindset

Curiosity about online culture

Ability to translate research into act

Education

Marketing/communications/media studies/fashion/film/journalism/cultural studies student or related field

Tools

Analytics

Job description

Faculty Laura Lanteri is looking for a strong student or junior researcher to support the development and audience-building strategy for an independent documentary focused on beauty, culture, identity, and the global beauty industry. The role will focus specifically on understanding how the project can build meaningful social media traction ahead of fundraising, production, and release.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Research current conversations, trends, creators, communities, and cultural moments related to beauty, identity, aesthetics, body image, fashion, and contemporary culture.
• Identify topics and angles with strong potential for organic social engagement.
• Research relevant TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and other online communities.
• Identify creators, journalists, experts, commentators, and potential collaborators who could help expand the documentary's reach.
• Track emerging conversations and cultural shifts that could provide entry points for the film.
• Analyze successful documentary, media, beauty, and culture accounts to understand what drives engagement and audience growth.
• Research formats, hooks, narratives, and content structures that perform particularly well on social platforms.
• Help identify potential audience segments and the communities where they already gather online.
• Build and maintain lists of creators, accounts, publications, podcasts, communities, and potential amplification partners.
• Develop recommendations for content themes, posting opportunities, collaborations, and audience-building experiments.
• Track performance of social content and help identify what is generating the strongest response.

Qualifications - Education, Experience, and Skills

• This is ideal for a student in marketing, communications, media studies, fashion, film, journalism, cultural studies, or a related field who understands how culture moves online and is genuinely interested in social media as a research and audience-building tool.
• A strong understanding of TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and emerging social platforms.
• Excellent online research skills.
• A good instinct for what makes people watch, share, comment, and participate.
• Strong awareness of contemporary beauty, fashion, media, and internet culture.
• An ability to identify trends early rather than simply report on trends that are already established.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• An ability to translate research into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Curiosity about how communities form and how ideas gain cultural traction online.
• Experience creating social content, managing an account, researching creators, working with analytics, or growing an online community is a plus.

Work Mode

Hybrid/Remote - Employees hired for this position primarily work remotely with the occasional on-campus presence required with advanced notice. Employees in this role will also be expected to use their best judgment to be on campus when necessary in order to best fulfill the responsibilities of their job descriptions.

Hourly Rate: $31.37/hour

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The New School recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between SENS-UAW, Local 7902 and the University.

Since our founding in 1919, The New School has redrawn and redefined the boundaries of intellectual and creative thought as a preeminent academic center.