Research Assistant - [TBD]Design Development & Research Assistant

The New School; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

The New School is seeking a Research Assistant to contribute to the development of Conditions Design, exploring how policy and culture interact with business strategy. The role blends theory with practical tool design for graduate-level scholarship and industry applications.

The position emphasizes interdisciplinary work across design, policy, and strategy, with hybrid/remote work and on-campus opportunities as needed.

Qualifications

• Coursework or project experience in institutional analysis, regulatory studies, administrative law, or public policy.
• Experience designing frameworks, canvases, workshop tools, or other structured decision-support artifacts.
• Familiarity with design thinking methodology and tools (e.g., customer journey mapping, service design, systems thinking).
• Proficiency with visual/prototyping tools such as Figma or Miro.
• Interest or background in sustainability, ESG, circular economy, or social innovation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature review and source verification across design thinking, institutional theory, regulatory studies, and related fields.
• Research and help document real-world case studies illustrating the interaction between policy/regulatory conditions and innovation outcomes.
• Assist in designing a practical framework or tool (e.g., a “Conditions Audit” or “Conditions Map”) that operationalizes Conditions Design principles for business practitioners.
• Support prototyping and iteration of the tool (e.g., in Figma, Miro, or similar), including structuring content, visual layout, and usability considerations.
• Compile and organize research materials, citations, and supporting documentation.
• Participate in regular check-ins to discuss findings, direction, and revisions.

Job description

Position Purpose:

This position supports the development of [TBD] Design, an emerging paradigm that treats structural conditions - legal, regulatory, institutional, economic, historical, and cultural - as active design material rather than fixed constraints. The Research Assistant will support both the theoretical development of this framework (contributing to an academic book chapter) and the design of practical tools that allow business strategists and innovators to apply it. This is an opportunity for a graduate student with interdisciplinary interests in design, policy, and business strategy to contribute directly to original scholarship and co-develop a new practitioner-facing framework from the ground up.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct literature review and source verification across design thinking, institutional theory, regulatory studies, and related fields
• Research and help document real-world case studies illustrating the interaction between policy/regulatory conditions and innovation outcomes
• Assist in designing a practical framework or tool (e.g., a "Conditions Audit" or "Conditions Map") that operationalizes Conditions Design principles for business practitioners
• Support prototyping and iteration of the tool (e.g., in Figma, Miro, or similar), including structuring content, visual layout, and usability considerations
• Compile and organize research materials, citations, and supporting documentation
• Participate in regular check-ins to discuss findings, direction, and revisions

Qualifications – Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Coursework or project experience in institutional analysis, regulatory studies, administrative law, or public policy
• Experience designing frameworks, canvases, workshop tools, or other structured decision-support artifacts
• Familiarity with design thinking methodology and tools (e.g., customer journey mapping, service design, systems thinking)
• Proficiency with visual/prototyping tools such as Figma or Miro
• Interest or background in sustainability, ESG, circular economy, or social innovation

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.

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.

Since our founding in 1919, The New School has redrawn and redefined the boundaries of intellectual and creative thought as a preeminent academic center. At our university, students have the academic freedom to shape their unique, individual paths for a complex and rapidly changing world. As a New School employee, you will be a part of the university’s mission to prepare and inspire students to bring about positive change in the world.

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