Part-Time Research Associate

Penn State University • Ferguson Township, PA

135d

About The Position

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated part-time Research Associate to support ongoing projects in environmental health and safety engineering. The role involves reviewing scientific literature, summarizing findings, organizing research planning tasks, assisting with human subjects research (e.g., surveys and computer-based activities), and performing basic data collection and analysis. This is a one-year position that includes Fall, Spring, and Summer.

Requirements

• Pursuing a degree in engineering or a related STEM field.
• Strong written communication and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with scientific literature and basic research methods.
• Experience with Excel, Google Sheets, or statistical software (e.g., R, Python, Matlab) is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and maintain data confidentiality in human subjects research.

Nice To Haves

• French language proficiency is a plus, especially for projects involving West African collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews and write concise summaries of scientific articles.
• Assist in planning and organizing research tasks and timelines.
• Support human subjects research activities, including survey administration and participant coordination.
• Collect, clean, and organize data from experiments and surveys.
• Perform basic statistical analysis and generate visualizations or reports.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to research documentation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree