Compensation Range:

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 

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Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies.  Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family.  For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 4,500 faculty and staff and serves over 45,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.