For instructions on using Handshake, visit the Tulane Student Employment website.
This is a paid position to support social innovation/changemaking research/scholarship programming for the August-May academic year.
POSITION SUMMARY: Research and Scholarship GA
The GAs for Research and Scholarship (R&S) will help design, organize, and contribute to a range of activities to support social innovation/ changemaking research/scholarship and knowledge production. Activities might include: researching, writing, and editing Taylor Provocations (monographs) and other academic and Taylor Center publications; convening and hosting scholars through in-person and remote/virtual Social Innovation Conversations and/or Writing Retreats; and representing Taylor at conferences, plus other activities as needed.
The individual will be part of the Research & Scholarship team at Taylor, contributing to the R&S Programs and activities as seen on the Taylor website: Research and Scholarship – The Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking (tulane.edu). GA’s are expected to meet regularly and coordinate efforts with the R&S team and Taylor team. Location is somewhat flexible: GAs for R&S do not have to be based on the uptown campus.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS/JOB DUTIES
A GA for R&S will be involved with various activities, to include any or all of the following, depending on the specific activities of the team for the academic year:
- Writing projectson changemaking education, design thinking for social impact, social innovation theories, action research, community-based research, or other topics. Could include developing new projects for diverse academic and non-academic audiences, e.g., Taylor Provocations or journal articles on social innovation topics. Could include communicating for diverse audiences, e.g., write/edit blog posts and other non-academic products.
- Research activities:Supporting activities related to desk review, literature reviews, action research, qualitative, community-engaged, participatory research. This involves leading IRB applications, data management, and managing bibliographies, as well as contributing to proposal and grant applications.
- “Social Innovation Conversations”series: helping organize and host occasional seminars to engage campus & community scholars in discussions around social Innovation, changemaking, and design thinking research, as needed.
- Writing Retreats/Challenges: Organizing and hosting events as needed to support social innovation research and writing efforts and help build a community of scholars.
- Coordinating and collaborating via regular R&S team meetings.
- Other: based on the team, interests and preparation, other activities /duties.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduate Assistant in Research & Scholarship (up to 2 positions available)
- Enrolled and in good standing in a degree-bearing graduate program at Tulane for the academic year.
- Interests and exposure to social innovation, design thinking, changemaking or related social impact fields as a research topic.
- Strong writing skills (English).
- Strong analytical skills.
- Self-motivated, highly professional and responsible.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Doctoral level methods coursework and training (social sciences and/or humanities fields).
- Experience with academic manuscripts and publications.
- Experience in action research, community-engaged or participatory research, and/or developmental evaluation, e.g., outcome-mapping, appreciative enquiry.
- Experience in public speaking and conference presentations.
- Facilitation experience (organizing and hosting events, convenings, seminars for diverse audiences), including for online events (Zoom and other technologies for online facilitation)
- Prior grant-proposal-writing experience for programs or academic research.
REMUNERATION
- The Graduate Assistant for Research will work an average of 16 hours/week for up to 35 weeks from late August to early-mid May, unless otherwise arranged. Specific hours per week might vary from 10 to 20 hours depending on needs. The maximum total stipend is up to $8400/year (plus fringe)
- Pay rate is $15/hour (same for all graduate students at Taylor).
- Students are also eligible to apply to Taylor student funding for up to $1,500/year.
SUPERVISION
This GA for R&S will report to the R&S team. Details to be determined case-by-case.
About Tulane University – Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking
The Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking cultivates a diverse learning community of Changemakers who use their skills, humility, expertise, gifts, and power to affirm the humanity of all people in the pursuit of a more just, sustainable, and equitable society. Our university-wide initiatives are globally-aware, community-oriented, and interdisciplinary. Our programs are grounded in the teaching, research, and practices of design thinking, social entrepreneurship, and social innovation.
For instructions on using Handshake, visit the Tulane Student Employment website.