Research Assistant

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

• Proposed
  
  Start Date:
  
  08/03/2026
• Rank: L - Research Assistant
• Working Title:
  
  Research Assistant
• Position Number: D93375
• Representation: AU - AAUP
• Faculty Type:
  Fixed Term Research/Grant
• Fixed Term End Date: 06/30/2028
• Position FTE:
  Variable between .5 and 1.0 FTE, starting at 1.0 FTE
• Term of Service: 12 month

Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands‑on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree‑lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state‑of‑the‑art science labs. We are proud of our world‑class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

College of Education is built for educators and counselors who believe the system can be different, and they are ready to lead that change. The college believes that your goals matter—and so does your life beyond school. Our inclusive programs are designed for people balancing work, family, and ambition while preparing for meaningful careers in education and community leadership. Whether you want to teach, counsel, or lead, you’ll gain the knowledge, practical experience, and community connections to make a lasting difference where it matters most.

This position will serve in a research role in developing and executing research activities of the US DOE Institute of Educational Science grant, Transition Coalition Self‑Study+ (TCSS+). The Research Assistant position is associated with a funded research grant, Transition Coalition Self‑Study+ (TCSS+) in the Department of Leadership, Learning, & Counseling. The role will support several essential research activities to occur during the last two years of the project (2026‑2027 and 2027‑2028).

This full‑time (1.0 FTE) position requires a team‑based individual with strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and experience coordinating research projects, including recruitment, data collection, summarizing data, and using analyzed data to inform the final intervention. Day‑to‑day oversight and assignment of work is the responsibility of Dr. Mary Morningstar, the research principal investigator.

• Bachelor’s degree in education or related field
• One (1) or more years of experience with research support
• Demonstrated ability to develop, edit and enhance existing research procedures and systems with supervision
• Strong administrative skills exhibited through knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to perform focused research or evaluation tasks including data management and online data collection
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Master’s degree in education or related field
• Ability to acknowledge, encourage, and celebrate differences
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of…