"Research Assistant II"

Job Summary

The Research Assistant II will contribute to the general running of The Open Canopy and offer special support regarding the strands of work that involve piloting a curriculum on slow journalism and connecting Middle Eastern (MENA) and American youth. The Open Canopy involves the ongoing development of an international online learning community, as well as the pursuit of related research. The RA II will provide administrative, organizational, and intellectual support to the project.

Specific tasks include but are not limited to: helping with the day-to-day running of our online program; curating the project’s social media accounts; offering technical and pedagogical support for educators; documenting and analyzing student work; exploring how we might integrate AI into our programming. Organizational support may include helping develop project materials related to dissemination (e.g., conference presentations, workshops, social media, etc.) and publications (e.g. editing).

In addition, the RAII will contribute to intellectual work on the project. The RAII will contribute to the development of new curriculum materials and other support materials. The RAII will also conduct literature reviews and participate in qualitative data analysis, including coding. The RAII may also be involved in conducting informal interviews via Zoom with educator participants.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

• General organizational support (e.g., attending meetings, preparing materials, tracking project participation, etc.)
• Day-to-day platform management assistance (reviewing student work, maintaining contact with participating educators)
• Contributions to the development of project ideas and materials, including literature reviews, instructional resources, publications, presentations, etc.
• Social media and external outreach (helping manage social media, doing project outreach)

Please note that there is a candidate currently under consideration for this position.

To be considered, you must submit a cover letter. Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document when applying for the role.

This position is a term appointment with an end date of June 30, 2026.

This is a part-time 20-hour Hybrid position based in Cambridge, MA

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

Some post high school training, preferably in education or a related field. One to two years of related work experience in K12 intercultural dialogue and exchange (relevant coursework or internships may count towards experience). Strong attention to detail required. Good communication skills, particularly in the realm of social media. Excellent writing and analytic skills. Some video editing experience is preferred.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Bachelor's degree preferred, preferably in education or a related field. The candidate should be comfortable communicating and collaborating with a variety of audiences and participants across different cultural contexts. They should be as comfortable working independently as being a collaborative member of the research team. Having a tolerance for ambiguity, thriving in the unknown, being comfortable with the iterative process, and a sense of humor are all welcome traits. We would favor a candidate who has experience with online educational platforms and interest and experience with both journalism and AI.

Additional Information

• Appointment End Date: Date of Hire until June 30, 2026
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 20 hours per week/PT
• Compensation Range/Rate: Salary grade level 053. Harvard's Salary Ranges
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.