Riverside, CA - Native Policy Lab Field Researcher; part-time

Position Summary

The Native Policy Lab (NPL) at the University of Iowa is hiring multiple temporary, part‑time, hourly, paid field researchers to assist with Project Return. Project Return is an initiative of the NPL to return Indian boarding school records to all survivors who want them. This project is currently funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through June 2028. To learn more about the project, please view this article https://now.uiowa.edu/news/2025/07/ui-associate-professor-receives-mellon-foundation-grant-partner-native-nations-2.

• Completion of the National Archives Researcher Orientation training and Safe Handling of Library and Archival Materials training.
• Corresponding with NPL researchers and maintaining clear communication.
• Local travel to the National Archives.
• Fulfilling records requests in a timely manner that meets NPL expectations.
• Careful scanning of historic Indian boarding school records.
• Duties completed with attention to confidentiality requirements.
• Other site‑based duties related to Project Return as assigned.

$20/hour.

Ongoing, part time, flexible hours.

• No education level or student‑status requirements.
• Must be located near one of the following National Archives field offices:
  Denver, CO;
  Fort Worth, TX;
  Kansas City, MO;
  Riverside, CA;
  San Bruno, CA; or Seattle, WA.

• Knowledge of or experience working within Indian Country.