Student – Research Assistant

Department Inst for Policy & Social Res Primary Campus University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
Job Description 20% – Participant Communication & Scheduling

• Respond to participant inquiries and coordinate scheduling for installations and follow-ups.
• Maintain timely communication: participant communications – responses within 3 days are expected;
  Dr. Ahn’s emails – responses within 7 days are expected.
• Track recruitment status, appointments, and completion milestones using project logs and shared documentation.

20% – Sensor Deployment & Retrieval (Fieldwork)

• Support the installation of indoor sensors and provide basic instructions for participants (power connection is required).
• Participate in weekend field visits for deployment and retrieval (approximately 3-5 weekend sessions total across the project period, scheduled in advance).
• Assist with chain-of-custody procedures, labeling, and equipment tracking to ensure sensors are correctly assigned and retrieved.

20% – Survey Implementation & Data Collection

• Assist with development of survey.
• Assist with administering a 10-15 minute resident survey (housing characteristics and perceptions), including Spanish-language support if applicable.
• Support respectful interactions and adherence to IRB-approved procedures, confidentiality, and participant privacy.

10% – Data Management & Quality Assurance

• Organize and clean sensor and survey data (e.g., checking completeness, validating ’s, documenting missingness).
• Maintain clear documentation (data dictionaries, codebooks, and reproducible workflow notes).

10% – Data Analysis & Visualization

• Support exploratory and statistical analysis of PM2.5 and related variables (training and templates provided as needed).
• Create tables, figures, and summary outputs for internal updates, presentations, and reports (e.g., time-series summaries and basic comparisons across housing types).

8% – Participant Recruitment & Outreach

• Assist with community-based recruitment for approximately 60 households (30 manufactured housing residents and 30 single-family home residents).
• Share study information with community networks (e.g., housing managers, neighborhood associations, resident councils) under guidance from the research team.
• Support bilingual outreach when needed (English/Spanish), including explaining study procedures and answering participant questions professionally.

5% – Writing & Dissemination Support

• Contribute to drafts of short project memos, methods of documentation, and/or research summaries.
• Assist with slide preparation for internal updates or community-facing summaries (as appropriate).

5% – Meeting & Course-Linked Expectations

• Class participation:
  This RA role is linked to a course; RAs are expected to register and attend the classes. If you must miss a class session, notify Dr. Ahn in advance.
• Check-ins after class:
  Brief meetings may occur before or after class, especially if class ends early, to coordinate fieldwork and discuss progress on project tasks.
• Monthly group meetings: A monthly group meeting outside of class may be scheduled as needed to review progress and plan upcoming recruitment and installations.

2% – Additional Duties

• IRB and ethics compliance support:
  Help maintain IRB documentation (e.g., training verification, protocol checklists) and ensure all procedures are followed.

Disclaimer The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses:
Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civil rights, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, , 711 TTY.Contact Information to Applicants Yoonjung Ahn, yjahn
Required Qualifications

• Enrollment in GEOG 571.
• Prior experience conducting data analysis…