Research Associate

UVA Health • Charlottesville, VA

4d • $70,000 - $70,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy seeks a Research Associate for a one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal for a second year, contingent on performance and continued funding. The position supports the collaborative 50 Constitutions project, led by the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School, which documents the history and development of state constitutions and creates public resources for scholars, practitioners, and the broader public. The role is based at UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, with an affiliation with the Karsh Center for Law and Democracy at UVA’s School of Law.

The Research Associate will conduct historical and constitutional research on up to five state constitutions over two years and oversee law student and undergraduate researchers contributing to the project. The associate will train student researchers; oversee information collection and data entry for the project website; help draft constitutional timelines; manage accuracy and quality control; and coordinate with state constitutional experts and the project team at the University of Wisconsin. The role requires meeting deadlines set by project leadership.

This is a hybrid position, and the successful candidate will be expected to relocate to the Charlottesville area. The ideal start date is July 1, 2027. The position is primarily office-based and may require occasional travel to on-site locations.

Requirements

• A J.D. or Ph.D. completed by the beginning of the fellowship.
• A disciplinary background in history, journalism, law, political science, library and information science, or a related field that enables understanding of constitutional history, historical data collection on constitutions and amendments, textual analysis and data entry, and management of student researchers in partnership with the Karsh Institute.

Responsibilities

• Conduct historical and constitutional research on up to five state constitutions over two years.
• Train and oversee law student and undergraduate student researchers.
• Oversee information collection and data entry for the 50 Constitutions website.
• Help draft constitutional timelines.
• Manage accuracy and quality control across project work.
• Coordinate with state constitutional experts.
• Coordinate research activities closely with the project team at the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin.
• Meet deadlines established by project leadership.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree