Graduate Research Assistant

On-Campus ACA Variable 

US Work Authorization is REQUIRED 

Graduate Research Assistant

Utah State University, Department of Social Work

Supervisor: Dr. Jayme Walters, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Transforming Communities Institute

$20 per hour

10-15 hours per week

Overview

Dr. Walters is seeking a graduate research assistant for research focused on rural nonprofit capacity and philanthropic practices. Rural nonprofits play a critical role in addressing poverty, health, and social service gaps in underserved communities, yet they remain understudied and underfunded relative to their urban counterparts. This research examines the fundraising capacity of rural nonprofits, the philanthropic practices and perceptions of U.S. foundation leaders, and the ways community-level racism and classism shape nonprofit work in rural versus non-rural contexts. Findings from this work have direct implications for nonprofit leaders, funders, and policymakers working to strengthen rural communities.

The research assistant will support writing/updating literature reviews, conduct qualitative data analyses, and write/prepare journal manuscripts.

Duties

• Review, synthesize, and write/update literature reviews to reflect current scholarship and ensure alignment with journal submission requirements
• Assist with qualitative data analysis, interpretation, and integration with quantitative results
• Draft/revise manuscript sections including introductions, methods, findings, and discussion
• Prepare manuscripts for journal submission, including formatting to meet journal-specific guidelines
• Respond to peer reviewer feedback and assist with revisions across review rounds
• Maintain organized records of manuscript drafts, submission timelines, and reviewer correspondence

Necessary Skills & Qualifications

Required

• Currently enrolled in a USU graduate program (master's or doctoral level)
• Proficiency in qualitative data analysis, including coding, theme development, and interpretation
• Strong academic writing skills, with the ability to draft and revise publication-quality prose
• Ability to conduct systematic and narrative literature searches using databases such as Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, or similar
• Familiarity with APA formatting and journal manuscript preparation
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to track progress across multiple simultaneous projects
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines with minimal supervision

Preferred

• Doctoral-level student in social sciences or human services
• Proficiency with SPSS
• Knowledge of or interest in rural communities, nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, or social welfare policy preferred
• Experience with mixed-methods research

To Apply

By June 8, email: Dr. Jayme Walters at jayme.walters@usu.edu:

• Cover letter outlining skills and experience aligned with the needs of the position
• Current CV
• Writing sample (ideally a past publication or manuscript in progress)

Two references who can speak to research abilities