Student Research Assistant Luo
About The Position
The student research assistant will help build an online primary-source collection for The Historian as Detective, a 100-level History methods course scheduled for Spring 2027. In this Intro class, students will use small primary-source case files on a dedicated website to compare incomplete, uneven, and sometimes contradictory evidence and develop historical interpretations. The research assistant will handle source research, scanning, and documentation. A separate Vivero Digital Fellow will handle the website platform, design, templates, uploading, and technical work. Professor Luo will provide guidance in research, source evaluation, and teaching-collection design. The assistant may recommend sources and case-file groupings and will be credited for contributions.
Requirements
- Strong research skills, or the ability to learn them quickly.
- Careful attention to citations, source provenance, file organization, and detail.
- Ability to work independently, communicate reliably, and explain research choices clearly.
Nice To Haves
- Previous History coursework, relevant language skills, or experience with archives or digital collections is helpful but not required.
Responsibilities
- Work with Prof. Luo to identify topics and source needs for pilot case files.
- Search catalogs, databases, archival portals, digital collections, and published source collections for primary documents and essential background resources.
- Evaluate sources for relevance, provenance, readability, scan quality, transcription or translation needs, and copyright or reuse restrictions.
- Record complete citations, stable links, rights information. Scan pages of physical copies when necessary.
- Write a short note on the value and possible use of each source. Flag gaps, contradictions, and items that need more context.
- Log searches, decisions, progress, and hours; communicate regularly via email with Prof. Luo. Meet in person when necessary and beneficial.
Benefits
- All student employment positions on campus are covered by a negotiated contract with the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers (UGSDW).
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
