Job Opening: Graduate Research Assistantship, RIDGS Ethnic Studies Initiative

The Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality (RIDGS) Studies invites applications for a graduate research assistant during the 2024-25 Academic Year to support the RIDGS Ethnic Studies Initiative.

Priority Deadline: August 26, 2024

This position will provide support for research, workshops, events, and collaborations relating to the Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality (RIDGS) Studies’ K-12 Ethnic Studies Initiative. The position is dedicated to collaborating with community partners in the Ethnic Studies Coalition to implement, record, and communicate projects and activities undertaken as part of RIDGS’ Minnesota Humanities Center grant project. These projects and activities include: holding professional development workshops, community externships, and instructional coaching programs for K-12 teachers, hosting community listening sessions, working to develop K-12 ethnic studies licensure pathways, developing K-12 Ethnic Studies curricular and professional development resources, collaborating with partners at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) on evaluation projects, and creating written, visual, and audio materials to communicate the grant activities to a variety of audiences.

This position requires a 50%-time presence in RIDGS between August 26 2024 and May 31 2025, with specific hours and schedules to be set in consultation with the RIDGS program coordinator and director. This is a 9-month position, with the potential for a summer extension. Successful candidates must be enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota during the entire 9-month period. Preference will be given to candidates based in the Twin-Cities.

The position will be paid at the standard CLA hourly rate for graduate research assistants. This is currently $27.41, although it is subject to change. The University is currently in collective bargaining with the graduate assistant union (GLU-UE) and compensation amounts are subject to change pending the outcomes of bargaining. Priority will be given to applicants from the College of Liberal Arts.

This position can be filled by both ABD and non-ABD graduate students.

Required Qualifications. To be considered for this position, candidates must have demonstrated experience engaging with and sharing out ethnic studies materials and methodologies and have excellent written communication skills. Candidates must be able to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekends. Must have experience working with diverse groups, especially in community organizing spaces. Must be proficient with University of Minnesota Google applications, including email, calendaring and scheduling, and Google drive, docs and sheets, etc, as well as experience with MS Word, Excel, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications. Evidence of excellent oral communication skills. Experience designing K-12 lesson plans. Experience working with multiple units and deadlines, often independently. Experience collaborating with faculty across disciplines. Experience managing projects independently. Experience with public communications and awareness of current events relating to ethnic studies and K-12 schools. Prior experience working with teachers,  administrators, and/or students in K-12 schools. Experience working in a higher education setting assisting with events planning and execution. Web and graphic design experience. Experience explaining policies and procedures. Means to travel to public schools.

Research Assistant Duties and Responsibilities. This position works closely with the RIDGS Program Coordinator and Director to provide capacity for the implementation of the RIDGS Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) Cultural Heritage grant project. 

• Support for K-12 professional development, including workshops, community externships, and instructional coaching;
  • Provide logistical support to set up and run events
  • Communicate event information to relevant audiences via designing graphics and email communications
  • Create permanent resources based on professional development events
  • Create write-ups reporting on results and takeaways from grant activities to be shared on RIDGS and Coalition websites, and potentially other public-facing outlets. This task category may also include creating podcasts.
  • Participate in community listening sessions regarding ethnic studies taking place in different school districts.
  • Support the designing of K-12 ethnic studies licensure pathways in collaboration with community partners.
  • Assist in recordkeeping and internal evaluation of the MHC grant project and assist with the preparation of additional grant proposals.

• Support the development of the RIDGS Ethnic Studies Database, a repository of K-12 ethnic studies lesson plans created to support teachers provide insightful and high quality instruction to their ethnic studies students. RIDGS may also begin new ethnic studies resource-creation projects requiring RA assistance. 

The scope of the responsibilities may shift during the assistantship period. This will require flexibility, although care will be taken to ensure that the workload does not exceed 20 hours per week.

Apply Here: https://z.umn.edu/RIDGS_MHC_RAship

Applications received before August 26, 2024 will receive priority consideration 
(The appointment will have an official start date of August 26, 2024 to preserve tuition and fringe benefits). 

Please contact ridgs@umn.edu with any questions

This work is funded in part by MHC with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.