Undergraduate Student Research Assistant

Undergraduate Student Research Assistant

Special Instructions are available. For additional information please contact:
Patti Hamerski erski

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

Note:

All job offers are contingent upon Human Resources final approval.

Job Title:

Undergraduate Student Research Assistant

Appointment Type:
Student Employee

Job Location:

(not specified)

Position Appointment Percent: 100%

Appointment Basis: 12

Pay Method:
Hourly

Pay Period: 16th - 15th of the following month

Pay Date:
Last working day of the month

Remote or Hybrid option? (not specified)

Min Hourly Rate: $15.05 (Standard); $14.05 (Non-Urban); $16.30 (Portland Metro)

Max Hourly Rate: $21.50 (Standard); $19.50 (Non-Urban); $22.00 (Portland Metro)

This recruitment will be used to fill one part‑time (up to 24 hours per week) Research Assistant for the School of Physics at Oregon State University (OSU).

This posting is for an undergraduate research assistant position in the Physics Department. You will assist in conducting research on how undergraduate students learn computational physics, learn to analyze qualitative data, read research literature, and participate in a research group setting. No prior experience needed.

OSU is committed to ensuring students are prepared for success after graduation through intentional skill development as student employees. The competencies students develop while working at OSU are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as the essential skills employers seek. In this position, students learn and build vital career‑readiness skills in the primary areas below:

• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Teamwork

You will be advised jointly by Prof. Patti Hamerski and a graduate research student. Through this experience, you will learn how to:

• Manage student data properly through human subject research training.
• Analyze qualitative data such as written observations, interview transcripts, and/or classwork.
• Read research literature and participate in a research group setting.
• Design and carry out a short‑term (approx. 1 year) qualitative STEM education research project (optional depending on future interest, ability, and length of employment).

You are not expected to have prior research experience. As an undergraduate research assistant, you will be mentored to develop several research skills as described above. Applicants should be students who are interested in learning about computational physics education, open to considering different perspectives of how learning can happen, and willing to try explaining your own ideas even when they are not fully fleshed out.

Expected workload is 5‑10 hours per week.

We are hiring for two projects. In your application, please indicate your interest in one or both of the projects.

• Investigating how generative AI tools influence student creativity within a computational physics course, including how students feel about using generative AI, understand its functionality, and engage with the tool during computing tasks.
• Investigating how students develop key collaborative skills in a computational physics course, such as sharing code, explaining code, and using collaborative computing workflows.

• Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study.
• Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible.
• Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard:
  • High School student:
    Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home‑schooling program.
  • Undergraduate and post‑baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term.
  • Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*.
  • Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term.
  • Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*.

* International students may be allowed to carry…