Part- Time Research Assistant, Scandinavian Prison Project
About The Position
The Scandinavian Prison Project is hiring undergraduate student research assistants to collect survey data at a nearby state correctional institution. Working under the supervision of a faculty member and other senior project staff, research assistants will administer paper surveys to incarcerated individuals and answer questions about the project and the Prison Climate Questionnaire. Data collection is expected to run from Monday, November 30th to Friday, December 4th, with possible hours from 8 AM to 8 PM each day. Applicants must be available for at least one full day of data collection and attend required training on Monday, November 16th; morning and afternoon training options are available. No prior prison or research experience is required. Interested assistants may have opportunities for paid data entry and additional data collection waves in the Spring 2027 semester. The rate is $12 per hour. Employment requires successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Requirements
- Be an enrolled student at Penn State Beaver or Juniata College.
- Be available for at least one full day of data collection during the stated collection period.
- Attend required training on Monday, November 16th.
- Be comfortable interacting with incarcerated individuals, talking to prison staff, and spending significant time within a prison.
- Be organized, punctual, and attentive to detail.
Nice To Haves
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including willingness to interact with incarcerated individuals.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with other research staff on a prison unit.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Reliability and punctuality.
- Interest in criminal justice or social science research.
Responsibilities
- Complete required training on survey administration before data collection.
- Distribute paper surveys to incarcerated individuals at a state correctional institution.
- Collect completed paper surveys from incarcerated individuals at a state correctional institution.
- Answer incarcerated individuals’ questions about the Scandinavian Prison Project and Prison Climate Questionnaire.
- Follow research ethical standards, including protecting participant confidentiality.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
