The Sacred Spectrum Project Graduate research Assistant

Application Instructions:

Active Student Employees: If you are a current Student Employee or have previously worked in a student position, you must apply from your existing Workday account. Do not apply from the external careers website. Log in to Workday and type Find Jobs in the search. Locate the position and click Apply.

External Applicants: Please upload your resume on the Apply screen. Your application will automatically populate your resume details, and you may verify and update data on the My Information page.

IMPORTANT: Please review the job posting and fully complete all sections of the application. You will not be able to modify your application after you submit it.

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Job Description:

Key Responsibilities

· Assist with participant observation and qualitative interviews in congregational settings (with IRB-approved protocols).

· Maintain accurate field notes and upload recordings to secure data systems.

· Support Qualtrics survey distribution, monitor response rates, and troubleshoot participant access issues.

· Perform initial data cleaning and coding for quantitative and qualitative datasets.

· Conduct thematic coding of interviews and focus groups using NVivo or similar software.

· Generate descriptive statistics and visualizations for survey data.

· Draft sections of internal progress reports and contribute to sponsor reporting narratives.

· Collaborate on curriculum and worship guide prototypes based on research findings.

· Assist in preparing tutorial video scripts and supporting materials for dissemination.

· Follow all IRB-approved procedures for consent/assent, privacy, and data security.

· Complete required research ethics training (CITI or equivalent).

Required Qualifications

· Current PhD student in Music, Theology, Psychology, Education, or related field.

· Demonstrated experience in qualitative research methods (interviews, coding) and familiarity with survey tools.

· Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under deadlines.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

· Background in neurodiversity, child development, or congregational studies.

· Proficiency with NVivo, Qualtrics, and basic statistical analysis (SPSS, R, or Python).

· Experience producing educational or worship resources.

Compensation & Time Commitment

Start Date: Fall 2026. Annual stipend: $20,000. Hours: ~15–20 hours/week during academic terms (some nights and weekends, depending on the needs of partner congregations – requires travel); flexible summer schedule. Benefits: Professional development opportunities; co-authorship on publications where contributions meet criteria.

Deliverables & Timeline

· Weekly: Field notes and data uploads.

· Monthly: Coding progress and survey status updates.

· Quarterly: Draft contributions to evaluation and sponsor reports.

· Annually: Assist in curriculum/resource development and dissemination activities.

Application Instructions

Submit CV, cover letter highlighting research experience and interest in worship and/or neurodiversity, one writing sample, and a letter of recommendation from a doctoral program supervisor. Review begins immediately; position open until filled.

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