Research Assistant - Evans School of Public Affairs
Available: April 1, 2008
Application Deadline: To ensure consideration apply before April 9, 2008
General Duties/Description:
The research assistant will work 20 hours a week providing database development and management support for the Community Vitality Project. The project examines community vitality within a framework of community- and individual-asset-based development, poverty reduction, economic development and other factors (such as cultural vitality) at different levels of analysis within the 8 states upon which the Northwest Area Foundation focuses its philanthropy: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. The goal of the project is to identify the policy levers that are most likely to positively influence progress on poverty reduction and community development. The project is now in its second year and has gathered a large amount of economic, social, and related data – primarily at the state, county, and sub-county level. To most effectively use this data, the project seeks a research assistant to develop and maintain a query-able, flexible, and expandable database that enables the project’s interdisciplinary team to analyze the relationships between policy levers on the one hand and poverty reduction and community development at the other. Specifically, the RA’s duties will include:
- Create and implement a MySQL database architecture (schema) suitable for this project,
- Populate the data base with existing data, and expand the database as necessary, e.g., to upload newly released data or newly identified relevant data,
- Build a query interface to identify and extract data at different levels of resolution for use by the project team and the Northwest Area Foundation Staff,
- Support the project team in extracting data for various analyses,
- Maintain the database on a day-to-day basis.
The position begins mid-April 2008 (health care coverage starting May 1) and, depending on satisfactory performance evaluation, is extendable through summer 2008 and through the 2008-2009 academic year.
Requirements:
- Graduate student (preferably PhD level) in computer science, engineering, mathematics/statistics, or other discipline with demonstrated experience in database development and maintenance such as MySQL back end and PHP for web interface development
- Ability to work independently and as a team member
- Excellent analytical and abstraction skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with interdisciplinary project team
- Prior experience in large-scale database development on project basis preferably in the social sciences.
- Some experience with GIS, graphics software, and design of web-based interfaces is beneficial
- The name of a faculty member or project leader to contact for a reference
Salary:
Salary and benefits are competitive. Salary is commensurate with academic standing, qualifications, and experience.
How to Apply:
Send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and reference to Rachel Kleit, Associate Professor, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, 209C Parrington Hall, Box 353055, Seattle, WA 98195-3055. Materials may be sent in hard form or emailed to kleit@u.washington.edu.
Application inquiries may be made with:
Rachel Kleit, Associate Professor, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, 209C Parrington Hall, Box 353055, Seattle, WA 98195-3055.
Notes:
This job classification is governed by a negotiated labor contract and is subject to union shop provisions. For more information about union shop provisions, visit:
http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/jobs/apl/union-info.html
Application Deadline: To ensure consideration apply before April 9, 2008
