SOAN Summer Student Research Assistant Dance Education Life-Skill Transfer Study

St. Olaf College • Northfield, MN

23d

About The Position

Seeking 2 detail-oriented and motivated student Research Assistants (RA) to support a faculty-led study investigating the post-graduate trajectories of college dance students. This project aims to capture a comprehensive picture of how dance training—for both majors and non-majors—impacts professional lives, creative practices, enhances durable and transferable skills, and opens unique career paths after graduation. This summer the RAs will play a critical role in the foundational phase of this study, moving from theoretical background research to the practical creation of a data-collection instrument. This position offers students a chance to apply the theoretical lens of the social sciences to the lived reality of the arts. Transferable skills include instrument design, data literacy, and IRB/Ethics Training/Use, as well as honing of literature synthesis, ethnographic insight, and demographic analysis. Students will also employ project management skills, interdisciplinary translation of knowledge, and a real-world experience with using data for advocacy and impact reporting.

Requirements

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in academic research databases (JSTOR, EBSCO, etc.).
• Experience with, or a strong interest in, Quantitative or Qualitative social science research methods.
• Highly organized with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Background in Dance, Performing Arts, Sociology, or Education.
• Familiarity with survey design software.
• An understanding of the diverse career paths available to arts students.
• CITI Training (Human Subjects Research)

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive searches of academic databases to identify existing studies on arts alumni, career portability, and the "gig economy" in dance.
• Assist in drafting, refining, and formatting a digital survey instrument (e.g., via Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey).
• Help identify key metrics and variables necessary to capture the experiences of both professional dancers and those who have transitioned into non-arts sectors.

What This Job Offers

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