Research Assistant - (Philosophy & Religious Studies)

Research Assistant - (Philosophy & Religious Studies)

Company:
Spelman College

Job Location:

Category:
Laboratory and Research

Type:
Adjunct/Part-Time

Temporary Position Title
Research Assistant - (Philosophy & Religious Studies)

Temporary Position Summary

The Temporary Research Assistant (Philosophy & Religious Studies) is a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and independent thinker who supports multiple faculty members with time-sensitive research and course-related tasks. The Research Assistant contributes to faculty scholarship and instruction by conducting library and database research, preparing literature reviews and annotated bibliographies, organizing research materials, supporting citation management, and producing well-structured summaries and draft reports. The Research Assistant may also provide limited course support such as proctoring exams and monitoring in-class writing sessions, as well as other minor course management duties.

Will work a schedule of 10 hours per week-To be determined by the manager.

Temporary Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Research Support (Primary)

• Conduct library, archival, and database research using academic tools (e.g., JSTOR, ATLA Religion Database, Project MUSE, EBSCO, Google Scholar).
• Prepare literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, and research summaries aligned to faculty research questions.
• Identify, gather, and organize scholarly sources (books, peer-reviewed articles, primary texts, digital archives).
• Track and document sources using a consistent citation style (e.g., Chicago, MLA, APA) and maintain high accuracy in quoting and referencing.
• Assist with citation management software (e.g., Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley) and maintain clean bibliographic records.
• Create and maintain research logs, reading lists, and document repositories (SharePoint/OneDrive/Google Drive, as applicable).
• Draft short memos, summaries, and preliminary findings reports for faculty review; incorporate feedback and revisions.
• Support preparation of materials for presentations, conference submissions, grants, or manuscripts (e.g., compiling references, formatting, proofreading).

Academic / Course Support (As Needed)

• Proctor exams and monitor in-class writing sessions in accordance with faculty instructions
• Assist with minor course management tasks (e.g., organizing handouts, compiling readings, posting/formatting documents in the LMS, tracking submission checklists).
• Coordinate scheduling and logistics with faculty and, when needed, department administrative staff.

Administrative & General Support

• Maintain confidentiality of student information and faculty research materials.
• Manage multiple assignments with competing deadlines; provide status updates and flag risks early.
• Perform other related duties assigned that support faculty research and course delivery.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Research & Information Literacy: strong ability to locate, evaluate, and synthesize scholarly sources.
• Writing & Editing: clear, concise academic writing; strong proofreading and formatting discipline.
• Judgment & Discretion: confidentiality and integrity when handling academic materials and exams.
• Time Management: ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines consistently.
• Collaboration: professional communication with multiple faculty; responsiveness and reliability.
• Technical Skills: MS Word/Google Docs, PDF annotation, spreadsheets for tracking, and learning management systems (helpful).

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and/or enrollment in a graduate program in Religious Studies, Philosophy, Theology, History, Classics, or a closely related discipline.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct academic research and synthesize information clearly.
• Strong written communication skills (summary writing, proofreading, formatting, and citation accuracy).
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently with limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, archival research, or research assistance.
• Familiarity with research methods relevant to humanities scholarship (textual analysis, historiography, comparative methods, qualitative synthesis).
• Proficiency with citation tools (Zotero preferred) and academic databases.

Certifications, Licenses, Restrictions
None

Full Time/Part Time: Part-time

Position End Date
05/31/2026

Posting Number: TP081

Open Until Filled: No

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