research assistant eligibility

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROGRAM (URAP)

The Undergraduate Research Assistant Program funds inexperienced students to work with faculty who are in need of assistance on their own research projects. In doing so, students who do not have sufficient research experience to design and carry out their own independent project gain first-hand mentored knowledge of research practices in their discipline, while faculty who would not otherwise be able to hire Research Assistants (RAs) get help with their own projects. Unlike our other grant programs, a URAP application has to be initiated by a faculty member. Faculty can apply with a particular student(s) in mind, or the Office of Undergraduate Research can assist in finding a student for them by running a search. If you are interested, keep reading to learn how you can get hired by this program! Students in the program are paid $16.00/hour.

If you are a potential faculty mentor interested in applying to URAP, please visit our URAP for Faculty page! The below information is geared toward students.  

PROPOSAL APPLICATIONS ARE EVALUATED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA :

• The extent to which the mentee will have opportunities to frequently engage with the faculty mentor and receive feedback on their work.
• The extent to which it is clear what the student will be doing on a day-to-day basis and how they will be trained to do these tasks.
• The clarity on the skills the mentee will develop through this opportunity and how these skills will prepare the student for more independent work in the field.
• Whether the application is consistent with URAP’s goals of providing opportunities for novice students – not students who already have related professional or academic research experiences.
• The alignment between the student’s interests/goals and the mentor’s work, and how this opportunity will create mutual benefit.

If the review committee needs to make decisions within a limited budget, secondary budget priorities will be strong applications from traditionally underfunded fields (or those who made an argument towards the necessity of funding) or residential college faculty pairings.

Since faculty can either apply with a pre-selected student OR run a job search, this means there are two different deadlines, pending which pathway you take.

PRE-SELECTED STUDENTS:

2023-24 Academic Year URAP Faculty Deadline: Monday,  October 9, 2023

Students applying as the pre-selected student must submit PDFs of their resume and cover letter within 24 hours of the faculty deadline listed above.

OPEN JOB SEARCHES:

2023-24 Academic Year URAP Student Search application period: Monday, October 30 – Sunday, November 12, 2023.

Eligibility

Student mentee eligibility.

Overall, this program is meant for student mentees with no prior research experience, or no prior experience in the proposed methodologies. If you are not sure of your eligibility on the basis of prior research, please consult this  Student Eligibility Guide .  Typically, the faculty review committee is looking for students to make major shifts across fields (ie moving from humanities to natural sciences etc); otherwise the argument needs to be very clearly framed about how the student is still considered new to research and why they are not yet ready to pursue something more independent.

Eligible Applicants:

• Undergraduate Northwestern students who are new to research.
• Undergraduate Northwestern students who are interested in conducting research in a new field that is significantly different than their previous research.
• Under applicable policy, the University cannot hire someone who is outside of the United States. The hired student must reside on US soil at time of hire and throughout the duration of the grant period.
• For international students: all URAP students must have a Social Security Number (SSN) before they are able to begin working/earning money. If the student does not already have a SSN, the Office of Undergraduate Research can write a job offer letter for the student. SSN-related delays may impact the student’s ability to complete work during the grant period. Please talk with us prior to applying so you have a sense of timeline and process required and can make informed financial decisions!
• Faculty may choose to hire two students, and each student has the potential to earn the full award. The award decision is made based on the whole application, so BOTH students must be eligible for the grant to be considered.

Ineligible Applicants:

• Students who are not residing on US soil during the grant period.
• Seniors graduating early cannot be selected for Academic Year URAP positions (given that most students do not begin working until Winter, and the student needs to be an active undergraduate student to be eligible).
• Undergraduate Northwestern students who have already held a URAP position.
• Undergraduate Northwestern students who are prepared to conduct independent research (you should apply for our independent research grants instead!).
• URAP awardees may NOT simultaneously hold an independent grant during their award tenure.

Faculty Mentor Eligibility

• Full-time Northwestern University teaching faculty
• Non-tenure track faculty and lecturers who are teaching this year  are  eligible, and strongly encouraged to apply as long as they will be at Northwestern the following year.
• Teaching postdocs  are  eligible, and strongly encouraged to apply. Post-docs on two year fellowships can only apply for a Summer or AY URAP in their first year.

Ineligible Applicants: URAP fosters long-term mentoring relationships between faculty and students; therefore, faculty are only eligible to apply if they will still be on their campus the academic year after they hold a URAP.

• Emeritus faculty, faculty retiring or leaving Northwestern the following academic year, single year visiting faculty, and other teaching faculty who will not be at Northwestern next academic year  are not eligible to apply.
• Graduate students and non-teaching post-docs  are not  eligible to apply.

Application Process

Finding a faculty mentor.

Faculty mentors initiate the main application. They will describe the student role and tasks, how you will be trained, and their mentorship plan. We encourage students to identify faculty to apply on their behalf (it’s your best chance of success!). A great way to begin this process is to work through Getting Started , and attend a Finding a Faculty/Lab Workshop .

If you are able to find a faculty mentor to apply on your behalf, it often works well to meet and discuss the project and your role before the faculty mentor applies. You can take notes during your meeting in this application  Word Template,  and send it to the faculty mentor afterwards as a way of jump starting their application. The information from meeting will also help you be specific in your cover letter about the aspects of the job that you are excited about and what you hope to gain from this experience. 

If you are not able to identify a faculty member to apply on your behalf in advance of the deadline, that’s okay! Sign up for our e-Newsletter to be the first to know when the open job searches go live! You are welcome to apply to more than one open job, but you must apply separately to EACH position, and we expect you to tailor your cover letter each time. The potential drawbacks to the open job search are that 1) there is no guarantee there will be a faculty mentor in your field running a job search, and 2) you will be competing against other students applying to the same position, so it is more competitive. That being said, it’s always worth a shot to apply! If you are not selected, there are still many other ways to get involved in research. Meeting with an advisor is the best way to come up with a game plan that works for you and your goals!

Drafting Your Cover Letter

You will need a cover letter to apply, regardless of whether you apply as a pre-selected student, or you apply to an open job search position.

EXPECTATIONS ON COVER LETTER SUBMISSION:

You are applying for a position that is competitive – take the time to write a strong application. If you have not written a job application before we recommend you review the resources provided by Career Advancement before starting. The following tips should serve as a baseline; students can receive additional advising on this process from Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA), and they can schedule an appointment through  Handshake . There are lots of helpful examples and resources on the NCA website, including their Career Guide   with sample cover letters and their page specific to  Cover Letter Writing .

FORMATTING:

• Cover letter is maximum of 1 page.
• Save document as a PDFs prior to submission.
• Minimum 11 point font.

COVER LETTER CONTENT:

• FOR PRE-SELECTED STUDENTS: Address the cover letter to the faculty mentor, but your target audience is the faculty review committee. Your goal is to demonstrate alignment with the faculty mentor’s application. You want the review committee to know how you and the faculty mentor came to work together, what skills you are excited about developing, and how you hope to benefit from the URAP experience, if selected. An easy way to begin this cover letter is to use content from the first e-mail you likely sent the faculty mentor (back when you were looking to start a conversation about their research), and then add in content from conversations you have since had with the faculty mentor about the particulars of the URAP position.
• FOR OPEN JOB SEARCH STUDENTS: Address the cover letter to the faculty mentor, being careful to assure that you submit the right cover letter if you apply to more than one open position. Your cover letter is your chance to differentiate yourself from other applicants. Try to express your passion and interests for the position, and explain why their position in particular stood out to you.
• Introduce yourself so they know who is applying . In the first paragraph, it is a good idea to let the faculty mentor a) who you are, your year, and potential major or field of interest, and b) share how you found out about the job opening (ie did their colleague recommend it to you? Listserv? Course you are talking? Office of Undergraduate Research staff member?) Additionally, if you have a residential college affiliation (ie Willard, Shepard, etc) please mention this as well.
• Tailor your application to the job you are applying for . A potential employer wants to know why you are interested in this specific position, and to get an idea of the skills, qualities, and experiences you would bring to it. They are less interested in generic discussion of your personal history, or experiences that have no bearing on the job they want done. So refer to specific reasons why you are interested in  this  position, and give reasons (supported with evidence – see below) for why you are the best candidate for  this job. You will not likely be a competitive candidate if you cannot articulate why a specific job is a good match for you, and what you hope to get out of it. That is, you cover letter should clearly articulate how your interests align with the faculty mentor’s and how this opportunity would benefit you academically and professionally.
• Provide evidence for your statements . It’s not enough to say “I am passionate about history/genetics/psychology/etc.” Why should the person reviewing your application take your word for it? And how does your claim to be passionate distinguish you from all the other applicants claiming exactly the same thing?  Demonstrate  your interest through concrete examples of things you have already done. E.g., what coursework have you taken? Do you have relevant life experiences through clubs, activism, or personal circumstance? What prior experiences show that you had some interest in this topic before you read the job ad?
• Your application must be professional.  A potential employer is interested in your professional experiences and academic goals, not your hobbies and childhood memories. When you describe your background and interest in the field, remember that this is a job application and not a dating profile.
• Give your potential employer enough information to make a decision .   If you only provide generic information and do not give much detail on yourself, how can a potential employer evaluate your interest in, and suitability for, the job?
• Copy edit your application before you send it . This should be obvious…you WILL be judged if there are typos or spelling errors. Don’t let silly mistakes hold back your application. If you are applying to more than one position, log back into the system after you apply and confirm that you uploaded the right resume and the right cover letter for each position. If a faculty member receives an application addressed to a different mentor, they likely won’t take your application seriously.

Click here to download an Example Cover Letter.

Drafting Your Resume

 You will need a resume to apply, regardless of whether you apply as a pre-selected student, or you apply to an open job search position.

EXPECTATIONS ON RESUME SUBMISSION:

You are applying for a position that is competitive – take the time to write a strong application. If you have not written a resume before we recommend you review the resources provided by Career Advancement before starting. The following tips should serve as a baseline; students can receive additional advising on this process from Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA), and they can schedule an appointment through  Handshake . There are lots of helpful examples and resources on the NCA website, including their Career Guide   with sample cover letters and their page specific to Resume Writing .

• Resume is maximum of 1 page.
• Save document as a PDF prior to submission.

RESUME CONTENT:

• Contact information
• Relevant Experience (does not have to be formal job experience)
• Start bullet points with action verbs. NCA has a list of action verbs to help you get started. Where possible, try to quantify your experience, or frame it in a way that shows how it is relevant to the position to which you are applying. 
• Place the most important information first and group related experiences together.  Use section categories to highlight your experiences most relevant to the job first. Within each category, items will be listed chronologically. 
• Include relevant non-work experiences.  Think broadly about what you might include; any activity you do consistently that has an output you can point to can work! For this particular resume, you might include relevant coursework to demonstrate interest in a topic area.

Click here to download an Example Resume.

Submitting Student Application Materials

FOR PRE-SELECTED STUDENTS: your faculty mentor will include your netID when they submit the application. This will trigger an email to you, asking you to upload a PDF of your resume and cover letter to complete the application in the portal ( https://soap.northwestern.edu ). You will see the pending application when you login. You must upload your materials within 24 hours of the faculty application deadline for the application to be considered.

FOR OPEN JOB SEARCH STUDENTS: After log-in, you’ll see a grid with any applications you have previously submitted.  If you have never used this system, it will be empty. On the top menu, click the button that says “Discover Opportunities and Apply.” Navigate to the section that says “Undergraduate Research Office.” Click the “View All” button to find all of the open grants and URAP positions. Scroll through the opportunity listings until you find the name of the faculty mentor and title of the opportunity for which you’d like to apply.

Apply through this Application Portal.

• Log in with your NetID and password.
• Enter the required information, and upload PDFs of your resume and cover letter. 

Final Submission When you submit the application, you will get one of two system responses:

• Option 1: Error message that there were some problems with your application. The errors will be highlighted in red; please review and correct them before you resubmit.
• Option 2: If there are no errors, you will be sent to a survey site. Doing the survey is a requirement to complete the application . It is a short survey that helps us continue advocating for funding and make improvements to the process.

You will receive an automatically generated confirmation email within 15 minutes of your successful submission.

Application Evaluation

• There is a clear benefit to both the faculty and the student. The student is actively engaged in the research rather than doing mundane tasks like data entry or transcribing.
• The student does not have prior research experience, or the student will clearly be transitioning into a new field with significantly different methodologies than their prior experience.
• The application outlines a clear and detailed mentoring plan, discussing how the faculty mentor will help the student develop their research skills.
• The faculty mentor would not otherwise be able to hire an RA because the field is traditionally underfunded and/or undergraduates are not normally included in the research process: arts, humanities, and non-lab/field-based social sciences.
• For faculty in the natural sciences, engineering, medical school, or lab/field-based social sciences, the application makes a detailed and compelling case for why no other funding is available to support RAs. If the faculty has hired undergraduate RAs before, the application explains why this particular student cannot be hired from the same funding source.
• The experience for the student goes beyond the regular curriculum in the discipline.

URAP and Work-Study

You do not need to be work-study eligible in order to receive URAP funding.

If a URAP student is work-study eligible (as denoted in their financial aid award letter accessible through CAESAR), then their URAP position will be converted to work-study. 

Here is an overview of how that will work: work-study is a federal need-based financial aid program. At Northwestern, it is set up such that the government pays for 75% of the student’s hourly wage, and the department that hires the student pays the other 25%. Since the Office of Undergraduate Research is the hiring department for URAP jobs, we will cover the 25%, and there is no additional cost to the faculty mentor.

Of note, work-study allotments are typically more than the URAP award allotment, which means the student may: 1) hold more than one work-study job (and it is the mentee’s job to communicate this to the mentor if this is true), and/or 2) be eligible to earn additional URAP hours given their work-study allotment. The average work-study allotment is $3,600 which is 225 possible URAP hours. Students are often eager to maximize their work-study income. Consequently, prior to the grant beginning, the student mentee and faculty mentor should have an honest conversation about the student’s goals and commitments regarding work-study position(s), and if the URAP job is a viable way for the student to earn additional hours. For example, if the faculty mentor only has about 100 hours of work (ie the initial URAP amount of $1,600 divided by $16.00/hr), the student can only earn a fraction of the $3,600 allotment, the student may pursue a second work-study job since many students financially depend on being able to earn the full allotment. Conversely, if the faculty mentor hopes to hire the student for 225 hours, but the student already has another work-study job with which they plan on splitting their time, it is important for the faculty member to know about realistic time expectations for their URAP research tasks. The federal work-study program caps the number of hours worked per week at 20 hours.

Can I get help writing my resume and cover letter?

Certainly! Since the required student application components are a resume and cover letter, your best resource is Northwestern Career Advancement . You can schedule an appointment with an advisor via Handshake . If you’re looking to speak to someone quickly, look into NCA LiveChat or NCA Express Advising options.

We are also happy to provide advising support through the Office of Undergraduate Research. Schedule an advising appointment with an advisor.

What if I do not currently have a faculty mentor in mind?

Can i apply to more than one open position, i am in a lab-based field. can i still ask a faculty mentor to apply.

• New junior faculty who have not yet applied for major grants and who need RA help while they are setting up their first lab.
• Faculty who are initiating small, unfunded pilot projects that will later form the basis of a new NSF/NIH application.
• Faculty who are funded by grants that explicitly prohibit hiring of undergraduates (please be specific about funding source).

If the faculty mentor does have potential funding to hire you, we expect them to do so such that our office can focus on creating as many opportunities for students as possible.   There are often a number of resources in these disciplines wherein faculty can fund  or subsidize undergraduates.

When can I begin working? How many hours can I complete?

First and foremost, you have to complete all the hiring paperwork before you can begin working. We have a separate page with instructions for award winners .

Academic Year URAP

• Students can begin working any time after November 1st IF they have submitted the appropriate payroll paperwork AND the position is visible in Workforce.
• Students can work more heavily in one quarter than another, pending their course load and agreement with the faculty sponsor.
• Students can work over breaks, if agreed upon with faculty sponsor.  Work cannot be conducted during exam periods.
• Students are paid $16.00/hour and can earn up to $1,600 (or 100 hours) over the grant period. Students who are eligible and choose to convert their RA position to work-study can earn more depending on their individual work-study allotment.
• If they choose to space out the 100 hours, students often work 5-8 hours a week (see funding information above).
• Students CANNOT work more than 40 hrs/week; whether working for this job alone or in combination with another part-time campus job.
• Students must complete & log all hours by the last payroll deadline before Spring Exams begin. Please check your award email for specific dates. Hours must be logged AND annotated in Workforce.

How do I get paid?

First and foremost, you must complete all steps in the hiring payroll process before you can begin working. We have a separate page with information to Award Winners .

The Office of Undergraduate Research hires students as Temp Employees, and students are paid an hourly wage of $16.00/hr. Students enter their hours in Workforce to get paid, and the faculty supervisor (or someone the faculty mentor designates) approves hours in Workforce as primary supervisor. Students cannot begin working until their timecard is visible in Workforce; typically the job is visible about a week after all payroll paperwork is submitted. Additional processes to complete payroll paperwork (like applying and receiving a social security number) may delay the potential start date. Full details on your award paperwork, payroll paperwork, and using Workforce to log/approve hours will be provided in your award emails; we also require all student awardees to participate in a mandatory on-boarding workshop.

I was selected as a URAP mentee! What do I do next?

When you are formally selected, you should receive an award email with instructions on what to do next. You will also fill out a form to generate custom payroll instructions within the application system. You can refer to this webpage for links to payroll forms and detailed instructions on how to complete them. In general you will need to:

• Log back into the application system and formally accept the award.
• Submit a personal data form.
• Complete tax paperwork and I9 verification if you are not already in the Payroll system.
• Attend a mandatory URAP onboarding workshop.
• Begin working ONLY after the position is formally created through HR and you can see a place to enter hours in Workforce.

I need help with the Workforce timekeeping system.

We will take care of hiring you, and we provide an on-boarding workshop to guide you through how to use the Workforce system. Your faculty mentor or someone they designate will approve your hours every two weeks. If your faculty mentor knows in advance that they will be unable to approve your hours for an upcoming deadline, they may contact the URAP administrator to request backup approval on their behalf.

All other questions are best asked of the Workforce help desk, as we are not experts in how this system works.

• Information and Links for the Workforce Timekeeping System
• Phone: 847-491-4700
• Email: [email protected]

Can I use this position to earn work-study money? What about academic credit?

If you are awarded work-study as part of your financial aid package, your URAP position will come from your work-study allotment. This option is only possible during the academic year.

HOWEVER, the average work-study allotment is between $3,000 and $4,000, which comes to about 200-260 hours of work (instead of the original AYURAP 100 hours). Not all faculty mentors may be able to provide that much work. Therefore, the faculty must have additional hours for you to complete or you may wish to find a different job to earn your full allotment.

You cannot simultaneously be paid for your work while earning academic credit, so if you prefer to receive academic credit, you should apply for a 398/399 independent study. Enrollment in an independent student makes you eligible to apply for an  Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grant , which provides $1,000 towards research related expenses.

I'm a research assistant, but I'm falling behind in my work and I'm freaking out. What do I do?

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Research Assistant Program

About the research assistant program.

The Research Assistant (RA) program at the Boston Fed is a two-year program designed for recent college graduates with a background in economics, math, statistics, or related fields. RAs work with economists on a variety of research projects and provide support for ongoing analysis of the New England, U.S., and global economies and monetary policy, as well as bank regulation, the payments system, and financial markets.

The Boston Fed is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to supporting and fostering diversity within the broader economics research community. If you are interested in gaining meaningful work experience, expanding your career options, and serving the public, we encourage you to apply for our Research Assistant Program. Working as a research assistant for the Boston Fed can be an excellent step along your career path.

Steve Osemwenkhae/Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Benefits at a Glance

At the Boston Fed, we want to ensure that you feel rewarded, appreciated, financially protected and prepared for the future. That’s why we offer a carefully planned and comprehensive benefits package that reflects your needs, with an emphasis on flexibility, convenience, and choice.

RA Testimonials

Learn more about some recent projects that our research assistants have been working on in different areas of the department.

Read on for testimonials from current RAs and former RAs .

Frequently Asked Questions

Research assistants provide computational and research-related support to the economists  of the Boston Fed. Duties may include working on longer-term research projects intended for publication in academic journals, assisting in analyzing current policy issues, or generating the reports and analysis to be included in Fed publications and in Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) materials.

What is a Research Assistant?

Learn about the role of Research Assistant, what they do on a daily basis, and what it's like to be one.

• What is a Research Assistant
• How to Become
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• LinkedIn Guide
• Interview Questions
• Work-Life Balance
• Professional Goals
• Resume Examples
• Cover Letter Examples

Start Your Research Assistant Career with Teal

Definition of a Research Assistant

What does a research assistant do, key responsibilities of a research assistant.

• Conducting literature reviews to assist in determining research directions and understanding current knowledge gaps
• Collecting, organizing, and analyzing data using a variety of methods, such as surveys, experiments, or existing databases
• Assisting in the design and execution of research studies, including preparing materials and setting up equipment
• Maintaining accurate and detailed records of all research activities and results for accountability and reproducibility
• Preparing research findings for publication, including drafting reports, graphs, and tables, and ensuring adherence to publication standards
• Collaborating with the research team to discuss methodologies, interpret findings, and plan future research activities
• Managing and responding to project-related correspondence, including communicating with external stakeholders or research participants
• Ensuring compliance with institutional, ethical, and regulatory standards for research conduct
• Utilizing specialized software and tools for data analysis, statistical computation, and presentation of results
• Supporting grant application processes by contributing to the preparation of proposals and budgets
• Presenting research findings at meetings, seminars, and conferences, as well as to non-specialist audiences when necessary
• Staying current with developments in the field and continuously developing skills and knowledge through training and professional development opportunities

Day to Day Activities for Research Assistant at Different Levels

Daily responsibilities for entry level research assistants.

• Collecting and organizing research data
• Conducting literature reviews and summarizing findings
• Assisting with the preparation of research materials and equipment
• Performing basic data analysis under supervision
• Helping with the administration of research protocols
• Participating in research meetings and discussions

Daily Responsibilities for Mid Level Research Assistants

• Designing and conducting experiments with minimal supervision
• Managing specific components of a research project
• Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting complex data sets
• Contributing to the writing and editing of research papers and reports
• Presenting research findings at meetings or conferences
• Assisting in the training and supervision of entry-level research assistants

Daily Responsibilities for Senior Research Assistants

• Leading research projects and developing research strategies
• Supervising teams of research assistants and coordinating with collaborators
• Conducting advanced data analysis and interpreting results
• Writing grant proposals and securing funding for research
• Authoring and co-authoring publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Mentoring junior researchers and contributing to the academic community

Types of Research Assistants

Academic research assistant, clinical research assistant, legal research assistant, market research assistant, scientific research assistant, social science research assistant, what's it like to be a research assistant , research assistant work environment, research assistant working conditions, how hard is it to be a research assistant, is a research assistant a good career path, faqs about research assistants, how do research assistants collaborate with other teams within a company, what are some common challenges faced by research assistants, what does the typical career progression look like for research assistants.

How To Become a Research Assistant in 2024

Related Career Paths

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Research Assistant Program

Work for USIP

USIP Research Assistants (RAs) assist in a variety of tasks and projects. These can range from in-depth study of a particular issue or geography, support to a fellow or expert, advancing specific team goals, or broad support to an entire program. They are paid between $15.20 - $16.00 per hour (depending on degree level) and work an average of 20 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week during summer and school breaks. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis to fill program needs. Interviews begin for RA positions one to two months before the anticipated start date.

In addition to local students, USIP is flexible in hiring students who attend a college or university in a different state.

Only full-time college and university students are eligible for the program.

Only full-time students from universities belonging to the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (CUWMA) can be considered for these openings. CUWMA members include: 

How to Apply

Full-time college and university students who wish to apply to be a research assistant at USIP should consult the list of current openings below and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter stating which position is of interest to you.
• A copy of your resume.
• A brief writing sample demonstrating your research and writing ability.

Search for Research Assistant openings

• OU Homepage
• The University of Oklahoma

Honors Research Assistant Program

The Honors Research Assistant Program provides Honors students an opportunity to work with professors as paid research assistants. Specific projects, and the type of work entailed varies with each participating professor. HRAP participants work for ten weeks, at $10 per hour. Twenty-five HRAP positions are funded each fall and spring semesters. 

HRAP Eligibility

Honors College students with at least 15 hours of college credit and a 3.4+ GPA are eligible to apply for HRAP positions. HRAP may not be combined with other Honors programs or requirements (such as Research 3980 or UROP)

Open HRAP positions are listed below at the start of each fall and spring semester.

Contact Jeff Cooper at [email protected] , (405)325-8692 with questions. 

HRAP Hours Requirement

• Students who are US citizens are limited to 29 hours of paid work per week, total, at all OU jobs
• Students who are not US citizens are limited to 20 hours of paid work per week, total, at all OU jobs.
• HRAP requires that you work 10 hours per week. Please keep this in mind if you have more than one on-campus job.

Spring 2024 positions are full. Check back in Fall 2024 for new opportunities.

Application for hrap positions pdf.

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NIJ's Research Assistantship Program

Successful applicants notified.

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application for the 2024-2025 academic year. We have notified successful applicants.

The NIJ Research Assistantship Program (RAP) offers highly qualified doctoral students the opportunity to bring their expertise to NIJ to work across offices and program areas to obtain a practical and applied research experience. The RAP is a research focused professional development opportunity for doctoral students. We welcome students from all academic disciplines to apply who wish to connect their research to the criminal justice field. This unique assistantship is an opportunity to learn and contribute to the breadth and depth of science research in which NIJ engages. NIJ provides funds to participating universities to pay salaries and other costs associated with research assistants who work on NIJ research activities.

On this page you will find:

• Overview of NIJ's Research Assistantship Program

Applying for a NIJ Research Assistantship

• Frequently Asked Questions About the Program

Detailed Research Assistantship Duties and Responsibilities

Past and present research assistants, overview of nij’s research assistantship program.

In the fall of each year, NIJ announces on its website and through social media and other dissemination mechanisms, the availability of research assistantships. Universities nominate enrolled students for these assistantships, and NIJ selects from the nominees based on their background and expertise.

Any questions should be directed to NIJ's RAP manager at  [email protected] .

Funding Details: NIJ and each participating university establish an agreement through which NIJ provides funds to pay research assistants’ salaries, health insurance and tuition remission (via a memorandum of understanding and inter-agency or cooperative agreement).

The provision and amount of these funds are determined by the university’s standard practice for similarly situated graduate research assistants whose work is performed at the university.

The cost of tuition remission is calculated based on the university’s standard tuition (such as in-state rates for public schools) per credit hour. There are maximum amounts for tuition remission:

• Up to 20 credits per academic year for full-time graduate research assistants who work for NIJ during the academic year only.
• Up to 24 credits per calendar year for full-time graduate research assistants who work for NIJ throughout the calendar year.

Please note that NIJ determines the number, type and length of research assistantships that it will support, if any, based on the quality of applications, NIJ research priorities and the availability of funds. Research assistantship appointments last for one year, following the home university's academic calendar. There is the possibility of reappointment depending on mid-year reviews, funding availability, and agreements between NIJ and the research assistant’s university.

Hours and Location: Research assistants normally are full-time graduate research assistants nominated by their universities and approved by NIJ. They normally work 20 to 30 hours per week (based on university policy) under a 9.5- or 12-month appointment, as applicable. The number of hours worked each week will depend on university policy. If funding is available, research assistants may work full time up to 40 hours per week during university breaks in the fall, winter, spring and summer (with the NIJ RAP manager’s and the university’s prior approval).

Research assistants work primarily at the NIJ office, 810 Seventh St. N.W., Washington, D.C. Sometimes, work is conducted in the field, such as during data collection efforts, or at another approved location, such as at a university or research facility.

Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, research assistants may work remotely until onsite working at NIJ has resumed.

Research Assistantship Duties : Research assistants perform a range of research-related duties and must work effectively as part of a larger research team. Research assistants plan and schedule their work based on defined objectives, tasks and priorities with the review and approval of the RAP manager, relevant NIJ staff and the university’s Graduate Program Director. See below for more details on research assistant duties and responsibilities .

Universities recommend doctoral students for selection to research assistant positions supported by NIJ. The university’s recommendation(s) must be submitted by the Graduate Program Director to the NIJ RAP manager. The Graduate Program Director may submit multiple student application packets to [email protected] .

Before they can be nominated by their university, candidates must provide their Graduate Program Director with:

• Statement of interest (1,000 word maximum) that describes the applicant's background and qualifications, current educational program objectives, basis for interest in the assistantship — including issues of interest and skills to be acquired — and career goals, including how the assistantship would support those goals.
• Public Safety Challenge Essay: Applicant should provide an essay describing what they consider to be the greatest public safety challenge (or set of challenges) that can be addressed through advances in science (including social and behavioral), technology, engineering or mathematics within the next 20 years, and why. Applicant will need to explain why this challenge is important and what advances could be employed to address the challenge. (No more than five (5) double-spaced pages).
• A résumé/CV.
• An unofficial copy (copies) of their transcript(s) covering their undergraduate and doctoral graduate studies.
• One Letter of Recommendation. Letter of recommendation must be from an individual who can comment on the student’s academic achievements and abilities, and other qualities and interests that make the applicant especially qualified to serve as a research assistant.
• Up to three contacts for reference checks.
• Writing sample of a scientific paper. (Can be from a classroom assignment or a publication).

It is the responsibility of the Graduate Program Director to submit these materials to NIJ’s RAP manager for review and consideration.  Note: All of the documents listed above must be submitted by the deadline indicated or the application will not be considered.

Upon consideration of all applications, the RAP manager and NIJ science staff may reach out to interview qualified candidates. NIJ chooses candidates on the basis of their background and experience. The selection process is highly competitive. 

When considering applying, please keep in mind the following qualifications:

• University enrollment. Candidates must be enrolled in a research-based doctoral-degree program at an accredited public or private U.S. university. Universities should contact the RAP manager at [email protected] to determine if they qualify for program participation.
• Degree program. Candidates must be working towards a doctoral degree throughout the research assistantship period of performance. Degree programs include Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.), Doctor of Public Health (D.P.H.) and Doctor of Social Work (D.S.W.). 
• Reasoning ability. Research assistants must be able to work independently, accurately, and in a timely manner.
• Communication skills. Candidates should have the ability to communicate orally and in writing to prepare comprehensive research reports, proposals, and evaluations, and to make recommendations to accomplish and enhance project objectives.
• Certifications, licenses and registrations. Human Subjects Protection training is required. Accepted research assistants  will be provided the training through the Office of Justice Programs .
• Background check. Successful completion and approval of all required U.S. Department of Justice profile and prescreening paperwork, security reviews, and background investigations (such as credit and criminal investigations) are required.
• Citizenship. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or a permanent U.S. resident.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Research Assistantship Program

Will nij pay for more than 24 credits if a university requires a student to take a greater amount.

No. NIJ will only pay for up to 20 credits for RAs who work for NIJ during the academic year only, and up to 24 credits for RAs who work for NIJ throughout the calendar year. So if students are required to take more than 20 or 24 credits in an academic or calendar year, respectively, the student will have to cover the difference.

Does the Graduate Program Director need to be the University Graduate Program Director or the College’s Graduate Program Director?

It is dependent on the university. The individual who has authorization to provide the recommendation (university, college, or department/program Graduate Program Director, advisor, College Dean) should make the nomination. Typically, it is the department and college level.

Does an research assistant have to be able to work at NIJ in Washington, D.C.?

Yes, the research assistant works in Washington, D.C. as a key component of the assistance is collaborating and networking with NIJ and other federal staff in the Capitol Region area. Research assistants may use the funds they receive from their educational institutions through the RAP to pay themselves a salary to cover the cost of living in Washington, D.C.

Do universities need to have an agreement in place before submitting a candidate’s materials to NIJ?

No. Agreements will be processed and executed after candidate selections have been made.

Can universities nominate multiple candidates for consideration?

Are moving expenses for the research assistantship program covered.

No. Moving expenses incurred as part of relocating to the Washington, D.C., area are not reimbursable.

Who provides workspace and equipment for the Research Assistantship Program?

NIJ provides on-site workspace and necessary equipment to complete work-related tasks.

Are expenses for training, conferences or similar activities covered?

If NIJ specifically requests that a research assistant participate in trainings, conferences or similar activities that have associated costs, NIJ, in its discretion, will provide an amount for NIJ- approved costs of participation with university approval. This may include transportation (airfare, train, taxi, or mileage), lodging, per diem for meals and incidentals, and registration fees, which will be in line with federal regulations.

How does performance evaluation of research assistants work?

NIJ will assist the university in evaluating the performance of research assistants. After an agreed upon work plan is established, research assistants will plan and schedule their work based on defined objectives, tasks and priorities. They do this with the review and approval of the NIJ RAP manager, assigned NIJ staff and the university’s Graduate Program Director.

Are research assistants federal employees?

Research assistants are not federal employees — they are employees of their respective universities. As such, they will not and cannot provide clerical support, be involved with grant processing of awards, grant management, or any other federal employee responsibility.

How far along in my program should I apply for the Research Assistantship Program?

Eligibility for the program does not depend on time or progress in a doctoral program. Graduate students and their advisors should decide when to apply. Applicants are encouraged to consider their course load, ability to matriculate in their program while living in Washington DC, and NIJ work requirements before deciding when to apply.

What does the GPD need to do to nominate a student?

Graduate Program Directors must submit applications on behalf of the nominated doctoral student. The Graduate Program Director is to send each student’s application materials to [email protected] by the application deadline. The Graduate Program Director’s email serves as the student’s nomination. The Graduate Program Director is not required to submit a separate nomination document. However, the nomination email may not serve as a letter of recommendation for the applicant.

What is meant by “highly qualified”?

Doctoral students accepted by NIJ work on a myriad of projects and research portfolios, and perform various tasks that require writing, data analyzing, collaboration, and presenting. Applicants are considered highly qualified based on skills that would facilitate a successful placement in the NIJ RAP, including strong writing skills, solid analytical, statistical, and methods knowledge, and specialized training in a topic area.

How do we evaluate applicants?

Submitted application materials provide insight into each candidate’s qualifications and fit with the program. NIJ evaluates applicants based on their research and practical experience, writing skills, academic record, and alignment of research interests with work in the criminal justice field.

Applications go through several review processes after submission. First, NIJ, science staff, management, and the RAP manager review and rank each application, based on the above- mentioned criteria. Second, NIJ selects top-ranked candidates for interviews with the scientific staff and the RAP manager to discuss applicants’ research interests and experience, academic progress, and alignment with the RAP. Lastly, the NIJ director makes the final decisions regarding selection of applicants to serve in the RAP. NIJ then extends assistantships to selected candidates, and upon acceptance, establishes an agreement with each student’s academic institution.

Are students at non U.S. based academic institutions eligible to apply to the Research Assistantship Program?

No. In order to be eligible, one must be enrolled in a research-based doctoral program at an accredited U.S. university.

Duties of research assistants include, but are not limited to:

• Compiling, summarizing or making use of complex, technical or specialized literature.
• Assisting in research design strategies (such as developing and modifying research proposals, procedures or instruments).
• Extracting and compiling a range of data from written sources, individuals (through questionnaires or interviews) or databases.
• Interpreting and summarizing data analyses.
• Conceptualizing and drafting publications (such as government reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, NIJ publications and trade magazine articles).
• Assisting with outreach activities that include research dissemination (such as meeting presentations, press releases, talking points, articles and Web pages).
• Drafting and giving presentations at conferences, where funding permits and as approved by the research assistant’s university.
• Assisting with the coordination and collaboration of NIJ federal partners, and regional, state, local and tribal stakeholders.
• Working effectively as part of a larger research team.

Research assistants will comply with the general workplace conditions applicable to other individuals who regularly work on site at NIJ, including security requirements, dress code and business hours.

Previous NIJ research assistants have gone on to accept positions as full-time faculty at universities, associates and directors of research centers, and analysts and agents at local and federal law enforcement agencies. The following table presents a list of NIJ research assistants from 1999 to present. Students have worked on a variety of research portfolios including, but not limited to, violence against women, school safety, trafficking, forensics, geospatial analysis, law enforcement, artificial intelligence, and corrections. 

The Research Assistant (RA) program at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is a two-year commitment designed for recent college graduates with a background in economics, mathematics, statistics, finance, computer science, or related fields.

Research Assistants’ work supports the academic research and policy work of staff economists for the department of Research, Policy, and Public Engagement. Topics of interest to our economists include micro and macroeconomics, finance, regional economics, insurance markets, and economic inequality and inclusion. Research and policy projects help to inform and direct the Bank’s efforts to achieve its mission .

Research Assistants will work with a variety of economists on their specified team to acquire skills in how to work with data in order to answer research and policy questions. Such skills are valuable especially when pursuing graduate studies in economics and related fields, but also for careers in industry, policy, and/or the non-profit sector.

How To Apply as a Research Assistant

The yearly application cycle begins in early September. Visit the Careers site for further information about working at the Chicago Fed. All applications will require a resume, a cover letter, an unofficial transcript, and at least one letter of recommendation (submitted directly from your recommender).

Please note: only U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents/Lawful Permanent Residents/Green Card Holders [with the intent to become a U.S. Citizen] are eligible to apply.

Email Address

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (at minimum) with an emphasis on economics, mathematics, or statistics (or related fields)
• Evidence of aptitude for quantitative and analytical skills
• Familiarity with programming languages and statistical software packages such as Stata, R, MATLAB, Python, and/or ArcGIS to perform advanced statistical and econometric analyses
• Ability to communicate clearly and work independently

Responsibilities

Research Assistants can expect to undertake tasks that include quantitative research analyses using economic and financial data. They work with economists on time-critical analysis of current economic data vital for policy work. RAs also help economists in conducting long-term academic research on a wide-range of empirical and theoretical topics.

Specifically, Research Assistants:

• Conduct statistical and economic analyses with macroeconomic, microeconomic, and regional data to support economists’ research. This support includes collecting and cleaning data, conducting moderately complex statistical analysis, writing code for model estimation, evaluating market developments, estimating forecast models, and organizing the presentation of results.
• Prepare a variety of charts, tables, and descriptive text for department management or other staff economists to use in their briefings of the President and the Board of Directors.
• Plan and execute research projects under the guidance of manager and department researchers
• Coordinate research projects and direct activities of research assistants and other staff, as assigned.
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Research Assistant Recruitment Support

Are you looking to recruit an undergraduate or graduate student to assist with a current research project? The Center for Innovation in Social Science (CISS) aims to coordinate and enhance the research and mentorship activities of our affiliates and social scientists throughout BU. One service we can provide faculty, lecturer, postdoc, and graduate student researchers is assistance in identifying undergraduate or graduate research assistant candidates. Through our website, weekly digest , social media accounts , and targeted email lists, we can reach a large number of students who may be interested in applying for the research positions you have available. Below you will find resources to identify, fund, and hire graduate and undergraduate students. If you would like your research assistant position promoted by the Center, please email the position description to us at [email protected] .

We can assist with producing your job ad and provide information regarding pay rates, BU rules for employing undergraduate and graduate students, and lists of candidate attributes and job responsibilities that may be relevant to your position ad.

Finding a Graduate or Undergraduate Student

If you do not have a student to assist you, you can draft a research assistant job posting. Postings typically include (i) research project title, (ii) period of employment, (iii) estimated hours required per week and pay rate, (iii) project description, (iv) job responsibilities, (v) requirements and prerequisites, and (vi) instruction on how to apply (via a google form or by sending materials by email). We have created a google folder with sample job postings found here .

After you have drafted a job posting, you can advertise your research opportunity on various Boston University channels.

• CISS posts graduate opportunities and undergraduate opportunities on our website. We also send these opportunities to individuals on our mailing list every week. (To subscribe to our Weekly Digest, complete the form here
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) maintains a list of current research opportunities for students to apply to. Please see their opportunity submission form here if you are interested in advertising an opportunity.
• If your department has a professional academic advisor, graduate or undergraduate studies director, and a student newsletter, you can advertise your research opportunity there.

Research Assistant Funding

The Center offers a variety of research assistant funding opportunities, including our undergraduate research interns program. Learn more about the program here. 

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) funds undergraduate students working with Boston University faculty. For UROP, students apply, and the faculty mentor must submit a letter of recommendation. UROP offers funding in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. For more information on UROP, please consult their website here .

The Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future’s Graduate Summer Fellows Program. This program offers graduate students funding for intensive interdisciplinary research that aligns with the Center’s mission. For more information on this program, see their website here .

Rules, Regulations, and Eligibility Requirements

When hiring students (undergraduate and graduate; international and domestic), they must be eligible for payment through the student employment system. Please find information on the student employment eligibility criteria on their website here .

Undergraduate students: Undergraduate students cannot work more than 20 hours per week across all on-campus jobs during the academic year. Undergraduate students cannot work more than 39 hours per week across all on-campus employment during the summer. All positions must pay the Massachusetts minimum wage, which is currently $15.00 per hour (effective Jan 2023).

Graduate Students: If BU already funds a graduate student (e.g., a teaching fellowship), they may not work more than an additional 5 hours per week during the academic year. During the summer, graduate students cannot work more than 39 hours per week across all on-campus jobs. When hiring graduate students, you will be required to pay a fringe rate of 8.6%. All positions must pay the Massachusetts minimum wage, which is currently $15.00 per hour (effective Jan 2023).

WPAFB Educational Outreach

Wright scholar research assistant program  , minimum qualifications.

• Must be 16 years old by 1 June 2024
• Must be a high school junior or senior
• Interest in STEM career
• U.S. citizen
• Must be able to pass background check
• GPA of 3.5 or greater confirmed by school officials before application deadline

Additional Program Requirements

Apply Here Starting November 1

Tenure: 10 June - 2 Aug 2024 Application Period: 1 November 2023 - 10 January 2024 at 5:00pm EST

NOTE: GPA Certifications must be included with the application to be considered. Students are encouraged to engage school administrators early, leaving a minimum of 2 weeks response time before the application deadline. Applications are timestamped. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted.

Selection Notification Letter by 30 April 2024

The Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program is an Air Force Research Laboratory initiative designed to expose high school juniors and seniors to various disciplines of engineering and science to further their interest in future STEM careers with the Department of Defense. Wright Scholars are competitively selected to work as full-time, paid research assistants for 8 weeks during the summer as a contractor. A “blind” review system is used to score and rank student applications. Selected students are matched with a mentor to work on a research project for the duration of the summer.

Email Us or call 937-283-4998

Program Requirements

• Must be 16 years old or older by program start 1 June 2024.
• Must be a high school junior or senior.
• Must have overall GPA of 3.5 or higher confirmed by school administrators before application deadline. Home-school students are considered if they score in the top 20% on a national standardized test such as the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT or ACT.
• Must be a U.S. citizen. Program is not open to Permanent Residents or Green Card holders.
• Must have demonstrated interest in STEM career fields.
• Interns are responsible for securing your own housing, food, and transportation. Program administration is not responsible nor can assist on a scholar's behalf.
• Must be able to pass background check.
• Must commit to mandatory attendance policy without absence, except for emergency/illness, during the first week and a maximum 40 hours absent over 8 weeks. This paid position is a full-time commitment. Excessive absence is grounds for dismissal.
• Selected students will be hired as a contractor for the summer.

Prior Year Wright Scholars

• Prior year Scholars DO NOT REAPPLY , if selected to return they will receive a returning scholar selection emailed for the upcoming summer Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program by 30 November.

Additional Information/Links:

Wright Scholar Photos Former Wright Scholar Feedback Wright Scholar Career Descriptions

Department of Psychology

• Research Assistantships

About PSY 4001 - Research Assistant

PSY 4001 - Research Assistant (1-3) is a course offered to allow students the opportunity to receive Academic Credit for working in Faculty members' research labs. This is a supervised experience in which the student does psychological research on a faculty member’s project under their direction. 

The course may be repeated for a total of six credit hours, earning 1, 2, or 3 credits a semester. Faculty members prefer research assistants capable of participating in their lab for at least 2-3 semesters consecutively.

This course counts towards the Doing Psychology requirement.

Graded on an S/U basis.

How to Earn PSY 4001 Credit

Students must first be approved by a faculty member for their lab as a research assistant. Please view the links below to see what our faculty are currently doing to seek out those that research topics interest you most. Almost all faculty currently teaching are engaged in research and accepting Research Assistants; Reach out to them to see what opportunities are available.

List of current research labs here . 

Read about our faculty research interests here .

After being accepted to the lab, you must work with the faculty member to complete the required forms to have the course added. Submission of the required forms is done electronically via ASU email. 

Required Forms:

Special Course Form (linked to Fillable PDF)

Research Assistant Agreement (same as above) 

These forms are fillable PDFs, best completed utilizing Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is offered for FREE through App State. Please use this link to learn how to download the reader. https://confluence.appstate.edu/display/ATKB/Adobe+Creative+Cloud

Steps to Electronically Submit the Paperwork

Physical paperwork is no longer accepted. 

Student fills in all applicable information on both forms

Student emails the completed forms to the faculty member they will be supervised by

The faculty member will process the forms and submit them for final approval

After the successful submission of the forms, the student will receive an email stating the department has received the forms, and then one more email when they are approved. 

If the paperwork is not received AND approved by the departmental deadline, 5 PM on the final day of the Add/Drop Period, the student will not be able to earn academic credit for PSY 4001 that semester.

For questions regarding PSY 4001,  please email  [email protected]

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Graduate research assistant appointment eligibility.

To describe the eligibility requirements that govern GRA appointments at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

Graduate Research Assistants appointed; GRA Appointing Officers

Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are salaried student employees who perform research that is in their fields (or a closely related field) of study and is integral to the student’s education (e.g., dissertation topic). The duties performed are under the direct supervision of faculty or research professionals. The duties do not involve classroom instruction. 

GRA appointments must be approved by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (for all funds under the University of Kansas Center for Research [KUCR]), the Budget Office (for the professional schools’ state- and endowment-funded GRA positions), or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) for state- and endowment-funded GRA positions in CLAS.

In order to be eligible for a GRA appointment, a graduate student must meet all the following conditions:

• During the term of appointment, the student is admitted to and enrolled in a graduate degree program offered by the University of Kansas;

Enrollment and Post Comps: Upon successful completion of the doctoral comprehensive examination and all other Graduate Studies and departmental requirements for candidacy to the doctoral degree, and upon completion of 18 post-comprehensive credit hours, the student may enroll in one (1) or more dissertation, thesis, or equivalent credit hours as approved by the student’s department, the student’s school or College, and the Office of Graduate Studies to qualify for a graduate research assistantship appointment. [ Note : Candidates for the professional doctoral degrees may enroll in dissertation-equivalent hours as approved by Graduate Studies. For more detailed information about post-comprehensive enrollment, see the policy on Doctoral Candidacy .]

• During the term of appointment, the GRA must be in good academic standing and be making satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree, as determined by the Office of Graduate Studies and the department in which the student is enrolled. A graduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing. However, if a department judges that a graduate student whose GPA falls below 3.0 after the first semester at KU is nonetheless making satisfactory progress, the department may recommend to the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies that the student be allowed to keep the GRA position for one (1) additional semester.
• The student must successfully pass a background check established by the University.
• A student who has earned a graduate degree may not continue in a GRA appointment after the graduation date unless the student has just completed a master’s degree and is enrolled in a doctoral program in the same field or a closely related field or is a doctoral graduate who has been accepted into another graduate program. 

Enrollment Exception for GRAs

In certain master’s degree programs, students who are in the final semester may be able to complete the course and hours requirements for the degree while enrolling in fewer than six (6) hours. Such students may enroll in fewer than six (6) hours and still retain eligibility to hold a position as a GRA provided that the student will not be continuing in a doctoral program at the University of Kansas. The option of enrolling in fewer than six (6) hours during the final semester is available only to master’s students with GRA appointments. It is not available to master’s students with Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or Graduate Assistant (GA) appointments.

Graduate Studies 213 Strong Hall 1450 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 66045 785-864-8040 [email protected]

GTA, GRA, and GA Appointments: General Guidelines and Eligibility

Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Compliance

Employee Eligibility Requirements for the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Student Employee Eligibility Requirements and Appointment Limits

07/18/2023: Updated links, corrected typos. 05/18/2022: Policy updated to remove summer 2022 or later stipulation. 10/11/2021: New Policy Published in the Policy Library.

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How to Become a Clinical Research Associate

A clinical research associate acts as a liaison between research sponsors and the clinics conducting research. Here’s how you can become one.

Every pill, vaccine, procedure, therapy, or medical device that might be prescribed or used to improve physical or mental health undergoes clinical research trials. During these trials, a drug or a medical device might get approved for consumer or hospital use. 

Clinical research associates (CRA) play a critical role in the health care industry and in improving public health. They liaise between those who sponsor research and those who facilitate clinical research. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, rising population density and international travel have increased the spread of new and existing diseases. Clinical research is necessary to gain evidence-based insights on how well a drug or vaccine does.

A career as a clinical research associate can be rewarding for individuals who are excited by the prospect of a dynamic role overseeing many different kinds of clinical trials. Here’s how to get started.

What is a clinical research associate?

Clinical research associates act as liaisons between the institutions that sponsor and fund the clinical research trials and the clinics that conduct the research. They're in charge of ensuring the clinical trials run smoothly, monitoring all the procedures, processes, and results, and ensuring the researchers follow established guidelines and protocols at every step. 

A clinical research associate works on behalf of the sponsor (pharmaceutical company, university, or health organization) or for a contract research organization (CRO) that funds the research. Clinical trials are the long, scientific process of ensuring that certain drugs, therapies, and devices are safe and effective for public consumption and use. CRAs guide the trials forward following ethics and safety regulations.

Clinical research associate job description

As a clinical research associate, these are the typical tasks and responsibilities:

Monitor the clinical research process, including managing supplies and coordination

Oversee data collection and documentation and input data into systems databases

Outline the trial objectives and present the trial protocols to a committee

Coordinate with an ethics committee that protects trial subject confidentiality

Prepare post-trial reports and manage the creation of publications

Where you’ll work

Field-based CRAs travel to different locations to deal with medical professionals in clinics or hospitals. Some CROs hire in-house CRAs to focus only on document review and management, making only occasional site visits.

Skills needed

Clinical research associates need certain skills to get hired and be successful in their roles. Whether or not you currently possess these skills, you can learn and acquire them through online courses or on the job. Some important skills you’ll need include: 

Administrative skills, including the ability to document important information accurately

IT and computer skills, such as databases and systems management

Written and oral communication skills

Keen attention to detail and organization

Ability to manage and coordinate with several stakeholders

Strong understanding of the clinical research trials and health care space, along with medical terminology

Clinical research associate salary and job outlook

The salary for a clinical research associate can vary depending on the organization you work for and your experience level. According to Glassdoor, clinical research associates in Canada earn an average salary of $ 73,209 [ 1 ]. The job outlook for clinical research associates is projected to be moderate to good in nearly all provinces and territories in Canada through 2026, according to the Job Bank [ 2 ].

How to become a clinical research associate.

A CRA career can be fulfilling because you are essentially part translator, part project manager, and part administrator for trials that have the potential to save lives. Here’s how to get started as a clinical research associate.

1. Qualify for certification.

You can take several paths to becoming a certified CRA in Canada. One path is to earn a high school diploma and clock 3,000 to 3,500 part-time hours of work experience in the field. At least one of those years of part-time work must be in Canada and must have been within the past five years. This work is typically in a supporting role, helping experienced CRAs. Your tasks will likely start mundane, but you will get more advanced assignments as you gain experience. 

Another path is to graduate high school and gain two years of qualifying experience—again, typically in a support role—in the last five years. 

The third path is to earn a post-graduate certificate in clinical research and then earn at least one year of Canadian clinical research working experience in the last two years. 

To enrol in a post-graduate certificate program, you will need a bachelor’s degree in health sciences or to be a registered nurse or registered in another regulated health profession. You can also qualify with a certification with a recognized body in health technology or if you’re currently employed in clinical research. 

2. Get certified.

After qualifying, you are eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Research Professionals Society (CCRPS) CRA certification exam. The CRA course and exam costs USD$450. 

3. Apply for jobs.

You can start applying for jobs when you have the necessary qualifications to become a CRA. Visit job sites such as Indeed or LinkedIn and type in “clinical research associate” to search for entry- or junior-level positions.

Enhance your resume with any health-care-related experiences you may have, including volunteer activities and internships. You’ll want to quantify your accomplishments with statements such as “I managed clinical trials in seven different states in 2020.”

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and preparing your best answers. Don’t forget to write a list of questions to ask your interviewer. 

4. Continue learning.

Earning a master’s degree can help you land a managerial position or salary boost as a CRA. Many types of organizations need clinical research associates, so pursuing higher education can lead to more interesting and dynamic job opportunities. 

Start your health care career with Coursera.

Launch your career in the health care industry by honing your skills in medical terminology. You’ll be able to identify parts of words commonly used in medicine, understand health records, and more with the Medical Terminology specialization from Rice University.

Article sources

Glassdoor. " Clinical Research Associate Salaries in Canada , https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/canada-clinical-research-associate-salary-SRCH_IL.0,6_IN3_KO7,34.htm" Accessed April 23, 2024.

Government of Canada Job Bank. " Clinical Research Associate in Canada , https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/23070/ca." Accessed April 23, 2024.

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UGC NET Eligibility 2024: Check Qualification and Age Limit for Assistant Professor & JRF

The national testing agency (nta) has outlined the ugc net eligibility 2024 in the official notification. post-graduates under the age of 30 are eligible to apply for the ugc net june 2024 exam. check the ugc net age limit, qualifications, age relaxation, and other important details here..

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024 is prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in the official notification. Candidates interested in applying for the exam must thoroughly review the notification to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements. Failure to meet any of these conditions will result in the rejection of their UGC NET application .

UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2024

• UGC NET Syllabus
• UGC NET Exam Pattern
• UGC NET Subject List
• UGC NET Preparation

UGC NET Age Limit 2024

Ugc net jrf age limit, ugc net assistant professor age limit.

• There is no upper age limit for the candidates applying for the UGC NET Assistant Professor post.
• There is no upper age limit for the candidates applying for UGC NET Admission to PhD.

UGC NET Age Relaxation

Ugc net educational qualification.

• General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates who have obtained at least 55% marks in a Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC in Humanities and Social Science (including languages), Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science etc. are eligible for this test. The Other Backward Classes (OBC) belonging to Non-Creamy Layer/Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disability (PwD)/Third gender category candidates who have obtained at least 50% marks in master’s degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this test.
• Candidates who are pursuing their Master’s degree or equivalent course or candidates who have participated in their qualifying Master’s degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited or candidates whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply for this test.
• Candidates belonging to the third gender category are eligible to draw the same relaxation in fee, age and NET eligibility (i.e. JRF and Assistant Professor) as are available to SC/ST/PWD categories.
• The candidates having passed a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme must have at least 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be applicable for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy
• layer)/Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidate.

UGC NET Eligibility 2024: Nationality

Ugc net eligibility 2024: reservation policies, ugc net environmental science eligibility 2024, ugc net eligibility criteria for assistant professor.

• NET/SET/SLET will be the minimum eligibility criteria to recruit eligible and appoint candidates for the Assistant Professors in Universities/Colleges/ Institutions. In this case, exemption from NET/SET/SLET will be governed by UGC regulations and amendments prescribed in the Gazette of India from time to time.
• The candidates who have participated in the UGC/CSIR/ JRF examination before 1989 are also exempted from participating in NET.
• The candidates who have cleared the States Eligibility Test (SET) accredited by UGC for Assistant Professor held before 01st June 2002, are exempted from participating in NET, and are eligible to apply for Assistant Professor anywhere in India. For SET conducted from 1st June 2002 onwards, the qualified candidates can apply for the Assistant Professor post only in the universities/colleges located in the State from where they are declared successful in their SET.

UGC NET Subject Eligibility 2024

• Candidates with a Master’s Degree in Geography (with specialization in Population Studies) or Mathematics/ Statistics can appear in the subject “Population Studies” (Code 015).
• Candidates with a Master’s Degree in Humanities (including languages) and Social Sciences can appear in the subject “Women Studies” (Code 074).

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Research Assistant with Specialization in Drones and Robotics – Odense, Denmark

SDU UAS Center, part of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for an open position as research assistant to support our portfolio of ongoing and future research projects within Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, Drones) and autonomous robotic systems in general. The position is a 2-year employment with the possibility of extension. The employment will take place from 1 st  of August 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The application deadline is 10 June 2024  at 11.59 PM / 23.59 (CET/CEST) 

What we offer The successful candidate will become part of the  SDU UAS Center , where we conduct research in civil drone technologies and future drone applications within areas such as inspection, nature conservation, agriculture, and healthcare. Together we create drone solutions to the benefit of society. We offer a positive work environment and a close connection to the world-leading Robotics community of Odense.

What we expect

The desired candidate has a relevant engineering degree in drones, robotics, electronics, software, or another related field at MSc level or higher, and should have expertise in several of the following areas:

• Research and development within drones or robot platforms, subsystems, and payloads
• Software design and development (C, C++, Python)
• Embedded systems software (RTOS, ROS)
• Sensors and signal processing
• Electronics design and development.

In addition, experience with UAS operations (experiments, piloting) is an advantage. Moreover, since the position will involve teaching activities, teaching experience is also considered an advantage. The candidate will be part of the SDU UAS Center and is expected to participate in the center’s project portfolio and outreach activities.

Work area Tasks could include, but are not limited to, research and development within:

• Computer vision
• Control systems
• Embedded electronics.

For certain projects, and for tasks at the  Drone labs  at HCA airport, a security check by relevant authorities and a driver’s license are required.

For further information please contact  Professor Ulrik Pagh Schultz ,  [email protected] ,  +45 6550 3570.

If you experience technical problems, you must contact  [email protected] . 

Application procedure

Before applying the candidates are expected to read the SDU information on  How to apply  and Faculty information on  How to apply – Academic staff .

The application and all enclosed documents must be in English and must include:

• Motivated application.
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, including contact information. 
• Certificates/Diplomas (MSc, BSc, and PhD if relevant). 
• If relevant list of publications indicating the publications attached.
• Examples of the most relevant publications if you have any. Please attach one pdf-file for each publication.
• Reference letters and other relevant qualifications may also be included.

Applications received after the deadline or outside the official recruitment portal will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee or an expert. Shortlisting may be applied. Only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Applicants will be informed of their assessment by the faculty. Interviews and tests may be part of the selection process.

Conditions of employment Applicants must hold a master’s degree (equivalent to a Danish master’s degree) at the time of employment.

The employment as research assistant is a temporary and limited to 2 years. Employment will cease without further notice at the end of the period. The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on salary and taxation.

Research and/or teaching assignments will be predominant in the position. Furthermore, other types of assignments may occur to a limited degree. The faculty determines the distribution of the various assignments. The weighting of the different assignments may vary over time.

Formalities

• All files must be in English.
• Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.
• The application and CV must not exceed 10 MB. 

The University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

Further information  for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.

Further information  about The Faculty of Engineering.

SDU creates value for and with society and shapes the future through high quality, talented people and outstanding environments. The University of Southern Denmark is a world-class university deeply rooted the the Region of Southern Denmark. Since it’s founding, SDU has been driven by an ambition to promote research results that develop society.

The major challenges of the 21st century are complex and multifaceted; sustainable change and solutions require new – often interdisciplinary – research-based knowledge, and the University of Southern Denmark is an indispensable stakeholder in the transition process.

Value, quality, talented people and environmental excellence are the core of the University of Southern Denmark’s strategic initiatives.

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THSTI Jobs 2024 - Apply Online for 02 Junior Research Scientist and Management Assistant Posts

Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) has published the latest job notification for the 02 Junior Research Scientist and Management Assistant Vacancies. Candidates who are qualified in MD, Ph.D., M.E/ M.Tech, CA/ ICWA, Diploma, Graduation, and Post Graduation must utilize the advantage of the THSTI Recruitment  2024. Qualified Candidates can apply online from 24th April 2024 to 10th May 2024. More details like educational qualification, consolidated remuneration, age limit, selection process, application fee, how to apply, and important dates are mentioned below.

If you are looking for more, Here we mentioned a list of  Government Jobs  for you to apply. Candidates can also apply for jobs in Haryana .

THSTI Vacancy Details & Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant's age should be 30 to 35 years.

Selection Process:

• The Selection Process will be based on the Interview.
• Selected Candidates will get a remuneration of Rs.60,000/- to Rs.85,000/- per month.

Application Fee:

• Unreserved/OBC/EWS Candidates: Rs.590/-
• SC/ST/Women/PWBD Candidates: 118/-

How to Apply for the  THSTI Recruitment for  2024

• Visit the Official Website of the THSTI.
• Verify the Notification details.
• Click on the Apply Online Link.
• Registrar, Log in with your Email ID and Password.
• Fill out the complete information in the application form.
• Upload the scanned copies of the Documents.
• Pay the application fee.
• Finally, Submit the Online application form.

Important Dates:

Government Jobs

Engineering jobs, medical jobs, any degree jobs, nursing jobs, civil engineering jobs, 10th pass govt job, pharmacist vacancy, recent notifications.

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