Undergraduate Research Assistant (Student Wage)

Student Research Assistant:

Community organizing, social change, and public values.

Professor Foley in the Department of Engineering and Society is seeking to hire an undergraduate research assistant to perform tasks related to the study of community organization, social change, and techniques. The project will involve the student working to understand the dynamics and process of community-based advocacy organizations and how their actions influence the built environment in the city.  This project will explore the values, institutions, and organizational capacities that underpin long-term social change. 

The undergraduate research assistant will:

•  Work for Rider Foley, Department of Engineering and Society, for not more than 20 hours per week during the summer and 10 hours per week during the academic year. 
• Work to understand the processes and outcomes of a local organization.
• Dedicate their efforts to understanding how the organization conducts events, evaluates past projects, accounts for membership contributions, gathers information for their corporate engagement strategy, and conducts meetings and reports on their progress. 
• Work 18 hours per week with the local organization. 
• Meet weekly with Rider Foley to reconstruct ongoing processes and type up their notes and reflections.
• Be creative, detail-oriented, able to work independently, and proficient in written and spoken English. 
• Responsible for the creation of a summative report that details their research at the end of the semester.

The pay rate will follow the established schedule established by the Human Resources department. 

Students must be eligible to work at least 5 hours per week and, according to university policy, not more than 10 hours during the academic semester. 

The applicant must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 and be enrolled in at least 6 credits this semester.  The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. 

If successful, the Student Research Assistants will have the opportunity for continued employment in fall 2026.

Work-study students are encouraged to apply. 

Compensation: $15.50/hr.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Cover letter, resume, and the names and phone numbers of two references.

Education: Current undergrad UVA student
Experience: None
Licensure: None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.