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Part-Time Research Assistant at American University in Washington, DC
Skills
Job Description
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University
Department:
Time Type:
Part time
Job Type:
FLSA Status:
Non-ExemptWork Modality:
Union:
Job Description:
Summary:
The Part-Time Research Assistant will support multiple high-impact projects in sustainability, organizational change, and entrepreneurship, including a large-scale systematic literature review analyzing over 2,000 documents on emergent and unintentional organizational change, empirical research on B Corporations and sustainability certifications, and work on mission drift in social enterprises. These projects target top-tier journals and hence need research assistance skills that are rigorous.
This role requires a candidate who combines strong technical skills in data analysis and AI-assisted research tools with an ability to support scholarly writing and knowledge synthesis. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of technology and business research, contributing to projects that directly advance Kogod’s strategic priorities in sustainability and AI-integrated scholarship.
Essential Functions:
1.) Computational Social Science Research Support
Assist with processing and analyzing large document corpora using Python, LLMs, and AI-assisted tools such as Claude Code.
Support the development and execution of data pipelines for qualitative and quantitative research projects.
Help design and run computational analyses in support of systematic literature reviews and empirical studies.
Contribute to data cleaning, coding, and validation across multiple active research projects.
2.) Research and Writing Support
Assist with literature searches, bibliography management, and synthesis of academic sources.
Support the preparation of manuscripts, conference papers, and grant materials.
Help format and edit research documents in accordance with journal and conference guidelines.
Contribute to the development of research summaries, presentations, and practitioner-facing materials.
Competencies:
Acquiring and Analyzing Information.
Prioritizing and Organizing.
Making Accurate Judgments and Decisions.
Evaluating and Implementing Ideas.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
Part-time.
15 hours per week.
This is a temporary part-time position ending on or before 12/31/2026.
Salary Range:
$19.50 per hour.
Required Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Less than 1 year of relevant experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Information Systems, or a related field.
Proficiency in AI tools or large language model (LLM) applications.
Familiarity with business analytics, data analysis, or quantitative research methods.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy and research integrity.
Preferred Education and Experience:
Master's degree or equivalent.
1 - 3 years of relevant experience.
Master’s degree in Business, Data Science, or a related field.
Prior experience supporting academic research or working in a university research environment.
Experience with tools such as Claude Code, NVivo, R, or similar platforms.
Adaptable and intellectually curious, with a strong work ethic and collegial approach.
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Benefits
Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.
Other Details
Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
American University is an E-Verify employer.
Current American University Employees
American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.