Research Assistant - Student Worker

Compensation Range: : $20.00 - $20.00 Position Description The Cause Research Institute (CRI) at National University seeks applications for a part-time, project-based Doctoral Research Assistant to support applied research and evaluation initiatives. This role is designed for doctoral students seeking to deepen their research skills through hands-on, real-world projects. The Research Assistant will work under the mentorship of the Faculty Principal Investigator (PI), supporting all aspects of project implementation.

Current work will support the United 4 Youth (U4Y) Learning and Evaluation Project, a collaborative, equity-centered initiative focused on improving outcomes for youth through systems alignment, data-informed decision-making, and continuous learning. This role emphasizes participatory, mixed-methods research, including qualitative inquiry, process evaluation, and collaborative data interpretation.

Essential Functions: Support implementation of mixed-methods evaluation activities, including interviews, focus groups, surveys, and observations. Assist with data management, including data cleaning, organization, and preparation for analysis. Conduct qualitative coding and thematic analysis under mentorship of the PI. Support quantitative analysis, including descriptive statistics and basic trend analysis.

Contribute to process mapping and documentation of workflows and partnership dynamics. Assist in synthesizing findings aligned with evaluation learning questions. Contribute to development of reports, learning briefs, and data visualizations. Translate research findings into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences. Participate in team meetings, partner convenings, and sensemaking sessions.

Maintain organized documentation and ensure timely completion of assigned tasks and deliverables. Other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A   Requirements: Education & Experience: Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, preferably in psychology, organizational leadership, public administration, or education. Currently enrolled in a doctoral program, preferably in psychology, organizational leadership, public administration, or education, at National University.

Experience with graduate-level research methods (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) required Prior experience in program evaluation, applied research, or community-based research preferred. Experience working in education, workforce development, public health, or nonprofit settings preferred. Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking ability.

Ability to collect, organize, and interpret data and draw valid conclusions. Familiarity with qualitative analysis tools (e.g., NVivo) and/or quantitative tools (e.g., SPSS, R, or similar) preferred. Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a collaborative environment. Knowledge of equity-centered, participatory, or community-engaged research. Experience working with diverse or underserved populations.

Ability to translate complex findings into accessible formats for non-technical audiences. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Student employees are in part-time positions hired for short-term projects not to exceed one thousand (1,000) hours per year. Unless otherwise stated or as prescribed by law, National University does not provide student employees with benefits including accrued sick and vacation, health and life insurance, or other benefits.

Student employee positions are available to the following. Students enrolled and attending courses  Undergraduate and graduate students in any school or program  Full-time or part-time students  #LI-DNI Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and