Graduate Student Research Assistant

The primary duties and responsibilities of the graduate student research assistant are to provide support to Research Division project teams in the design and conduct of social science research aimed at discovering innovative or improved approaches to the judicial administration in federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts.

Duties

Specific duties and responsibilities, generally exercised under the guidance of a Research Associate or Senior Research Associate, may include support with:

• Conducting literature reviews;
• Organizing, coding, and analyzing data;
• Creating and documenting datasets;
• Creating tables and graphs to present research findings;
• Developing research instruments such as interview protocols, questionnaires, and coding protocols;
• Writing and administering online surveys; and
• Writing reports of research findings.

The Federal Judicial Center offers a range of telework and flexible work schedule options based on the employee's position categorization. The Graduate Student Research Assistant position is a remote-eligible position and will not require relocation.

Salary

• $19.65 - $22.11/hour

Conditions of Employment

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be a United States Citizen, subject to the exceptions enumerated at https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship-requirements-employment-judiciary.
• Selectee must favorably complete a background investigation.
• Relatives of Center staff members may not be employed at the Center in any capacity.
• All requirements must be met for full consideration.

The Federal Judicial Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to achieving a diverse workforce and an inclusive work culture. It strives to maintain a professional and collegial workplace in which everyone is valued and treated fairly and respectfully.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled and seeking a graduate degree in a social or behavioral science discipline such as psychology, sociology, or political science at an accredited educational institution, on a full-time basis;
• Experience working in a research environment either as a paid employee, intern, or volunteer, or as part of a graduate school program;
• Knowledge of statistical programs such as SAS, SPSS, STATA, and R;
• Knowledge of database management programs such as Excel, Access, or FileMaker;
• Strong writing skills; and
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively.

Summer graduate student research assistants are asked to commit to at least eight weeks of employment for 30 to 39 hours per week.

Spring and fall semester graduate student research assistants are asked to commit to 12 to 15 hours per week.

Graduate student research assistants are limited to working a maximum of 39 hours per week. Education Currently enrolled and seeking a graduate degree in a social or behavioral science discipline such as psychology, sociology, or political science at an accredited educational institution, on a full-time basis. Other Information

Salary and Benefits

• Graduate Students (first and second year): $19.65 per hour
• Graduate Students (third year or completed degree): $22.11 per hour

This position is part time. Benefits are not applicable for this position.

Required Documents

Please see the "How to Apply" section.

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
The Federal Judicial Center recruits graduate student research assistants for the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.

Fall Semester dates: September - December. Fall Semester application deadline: July 10, 2024
Spring Semester dates: January - April. Spring Semester application deadline: October 1, 2024
Summer Semester dates: May - August. Summer Semester application deadline: March 3, 2025

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and should include the following materials:

• Cover letter explaining how you meet the qualifications stated above, and indicating whether you are applying for Summer, Fall, and/or Spring;
• Unofficial transcript or proof of enrollment;
• Resume; and
• The name and contact information of at least one reference.

Please email all application materials to ResearchHiring@fjc.gov. You may also direct any questions about the position to this address.

Benefits

Review our benefits