Research Assistant - Higher Education and Language Assessment

University of Virginia • Charlottesville, VA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Davy Tran and Janay Crabtree of UVA’s Center for American English Language and Culture (CAELC), together with Chris Chang-Bacon of the School of Education and Human Development, are seeking a graduate research assistant for a qualitative research project. The study investigates how admissions officers across UVA’s schools and programs interpret and use English-language proficiency scores, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test (DET), when evaluating international applicants to graduate programs.

This is a part-time, hourly wage position, not a Graduate Research Assistantship. The position pays $18 per hour and offers up to 10 hours per week during Spring 2027 and Fall 2027. The work location is Charlottesville, Virginia, online or hybrid. The anticipated start date is January 25, 2027. The position does not provide a tuition waiver, health insurance, or stipend.

Applicants should submit a cover letter and a current résumé or curriculum vitae. The priority application deadline is November 20, 2026. The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all interested persons, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

• Current enrollment in a master’s or doctoral program at UVA.
• Previous experience with qualitative research methods or the qualitative research process.
• Ability to handle research data responsibly and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Submit a résumé and cover letter.

Nice To Haves

• Academic background in TESOL, applied linguistics, linguistics, language education, or a related field.
• Familiarity with English-language proficiency assessments, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET.
• Interest in language assessment, international graduate admissions, or higher-education research.
• Interest in developing skills in conducting qualitative research.
• Familiarity with AI tools useful for qualitative research, such as Otter.ai and Consensus.

Responsibilities

• Contact admissions officers and coordinate interview schedules with the researchers.
• Conduct or assist with interviews with admissions officers.
• Review and correct interview transcripts generated through Otter.ai.
• Organize and manage interview data and related research documents.
• Assist with coding and analyzing qualitative interview data.
• Search for relevant scholarly articles and contribute to the literature review.
• Assist with drafting, editing, and preparing a research manuscript.
• Complete other project-related research and administrative tasks as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed