Part- Time Research Assistant, Scandinavian Prison Project

About the role

The Scandinavian Prison Project is hiring undergraduate student research assistants for survey data collection. Working under the supervision of a faculty member and other senior project staff, research assistants will administer surveys to individuals incarcerated at a nearby state correctional institution. Data collection will take place inside the prison, and is expected to run from Monday, November 30th to Friday, December 4th, with possible hours from 8AM to 8PM each day. You do NOT need to be available every day of this week to apply; however, you must be available for at least one full day of data collection in order to be selected. You must also be available for a required training on Monday, November 16th (morning and afternoon options available). No prior prison or research experience is required; however, applicants must be comfortable interacting with incarcerated individuals, talking to prison staff, and spending significant time within a prison. Applicants should also be organized, punctual, and attentive to detail. For interested applicants, there may be opportunities for paid data entry and additional waves of data collection in the Spring 2027 semester.

Responsibilities

• Completing a required training on survey administration prior to data collection
• Distributing paper surveys to incarcerated individuals at a state correctional institution (prison)
• Collecting paper surveys from incarcerated individuals at a state correctional institution (prison)
• Answering questions about the Scandinavian Prison Project and Prison Climate Questionnaire posed by incarcerated individuals
• Adhering to ethical standards of research, including the protection of participant confidentiality

Requirements

• Enrolled student at Penn State Beaver or Juniata College
• Comfortable interacting with incarcerated individuals, talking to prison staff, and spending significant time within a prison
• Organized, punctual, and attentive to detail
• Available for required training on Monday, November 16th (morning or afternoon)
• Available for at least one full day of data collection between Monday, November 30th and Friday, December 4th

Preferred qualifications

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including a willingness to interact with incarcerated individuals
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with other research staff on a prison unit
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Reliability and punctuality
• Interest in criminal justice or social science research

Pay

$12/hour

Schedule

Data collection: Monday, November 30th through Friday, December 4th, possible hours 8AM–8PM daily. Must be available for at least one full day during that week. Required training: Monday, November 16th (morning and afternoon options available). Potential for additional paid data entry and further data collection waves in Spring 2027.

Background checks

Employment requires successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.