Job: Research Assistant
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) is seeking a part-time Research Assistant to support the Career Lab’s mixed-methods research activities. This role is ideal for a current graduate student (especially Ph.D. students) or an early career researcher with strong quantitative skills and a clear interest in research as a primary career path.
The Research Assistant will work closely with the research team to support data analysis, reporting, and qualitative research efforts.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Assist with updating and maintaining Tableau dashboards for public-facing data visualization
• Support quantitative data analysis for longitudinal survey data
• Contribute to drafting quarterly reports for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
• Help manage and conduct in-depth, semi-structured interviews (including scheduling, notetaking, and/or transcription review)
• Assist with survey data preparation, cleaning, and documentation
• Support mixed-methods research activities, including integrating qualitative and quantitative findings
• Contribute to research outputs, including reports, briefs, and presentations
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Strong quantitative research skills (e.g., statistics, data analysis, survey data)
• Experience working with datasets (cleaning, management, and analysis)
• Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, Python, or similar)
• Ability to work with or quickly learn data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Current Ph.D. student in a relevant field (e.g., economics, sociology, public policy, data science, or related field)
• Experience with longitudinal data or large-scale survey research
• Experience/familiarity with qualitative research methods, especially conducting or analyzing interviews
• Familiarity with mixed-methods research design
• Interest in arts, education, workforce development, or cultural policy
WHO THIS ROLE IS FOR
This position is best suited for current students or early-career researchers who:
• Are building a career in research (academic, policy, or applied)
• Want hands-on experience with a large-scale, longitudinal research project
• Are comfortable working across both quantitative and qualitative methods
HOW TO APPLY
Send a cover letter, resume, and one writing sample that demonstrates experience working with and interpreting quantitative data (e.g., statistical analysis, data visualization, or empirical research findings), along with names and contact information for two references, to info@snaaparts.org by April 27.
ABOUT SNAAP
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) is a national survey of alumni of art and design departments, schools, and colleges. Since 2008, SNAAP has collected and analyzed data from over 300,000 arts graduates across North America. Our mission is to maximize the success and impact of creatives in society by driving evidence-informed change in training and illuminating the value of arts and design education. SNAAP is part of the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Theatre and Dance.