Undergraduate Research Assistant

Position Overview
The undergraduate research assistant will support Dr. Darrius Stanley in his historical analysis of the Lucy-Moten-Florida A&M University High School. This school is affiliated with a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), and both have a rich history and important lessons to learn for Black education and educational leadership in liberatory, community-focused spaces. Dr. Stanley will lead this study from August 1, 2026, to December 1, 2026, and an undergraduate research assistant will assist with literature review, data collection and organization, archival searches, and data analysis. This position offers an opportunity to both develop research skills and work closely with a faculty member who has deep content knowledge on the topic. This position would be appealing to undergraduate students with an interest in research methods, seeking close mentorship from a faculty member, and seeking to better understand the connections among Black communities, history, education, and liberation.

This research assistantship will require 20 hours per week throughout the summer and fall, for a total of 340 hours. The session dates are August 1 - December 1, 2026.

Job Responsibilities
Research support (100%), which may include, but is not limited to:

• Literature reviews
• Coordination of interviews (including contacting participants and organizing scheduling)
• Archival research
• Interviewing participants
• Note-taking during faculty-initiated interviews
• Data organization
• Data analysis
• Preliminary drafting of findings

Required Qualifications:
(Education/ experience must match job class specs)

• Undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota
• Availability during the end of summer and during the Fall of 2026 to meet in person or remotely for project activities
• Strong interpersonal communications skills
• Strong organizational skills
• General background and understanding of U.S. education
• Interest in learning about educational research
• General background and understanding of Black studies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous exposure to research methods
• IRB Training
• Understanding of and interest in Black education in the United States
• Interest in the field of education as a site for resistance

Our world is full of systems and policies that affect how individuals learn, grow and relate to one another. Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) studies how those systems and policies are shaped by culture and power. We prepare leaders and researchers to transform our education and organizations for the better.

We teach our students how to design, test, implement, and revise our institutional strategies in both the public and private sectors, from the international to the local level. Our students gain practical experiences in creating approaches to increase social and economic development, foster human flourishing, disrupt power structures, and promote a more just society.

About the College:
The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the third largest college and the University, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of the life span. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Pay Range: $15.75 - $17.25; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Office of Student Health Benefits website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

Student workers are eligible to participate in the Student Health Benefit Plan, if they maintain 6 or more eligible course credits within a given semester. The same applies for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Assistants, Residents, Fellows and Interns.

Application Deadline: Before July 2026.

Student positions are a form of financial support while pursuing an education at the University of Minnesota.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Candidates must submit the following materials as part of their application:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Writing sample, such as a piece produced for a class, a publication, or other work related to the project

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).