R2026106556 Research Assistant

Email position supporting tasks and deliverables under the supervision of Dr. James Hale, working closely with Spur community engagement staff and project collaborators.

About the role

The graduate student Research Assistant will dedicate the bulk of their time to community-engaged data collection and analysis in GES, including participant observation, supporting community meetings, data collection and analysis, and articulating results for publication, presentations, and reports. Additional responsibilities include IRB maintenance, team and advisory meetings, and contributing to reports, manuscripts, and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Attend regular team meetings with Dr. Hale and project collaborators, including Spur community engagement staff, to coordinate progress and receive feedback.
• Prepare and maintain IRB protocol for human subjects research (interviews, focus groups, and community-engaged data collection).
• Help organize and facilitate data collection (e.g., surveys, focus groups, and interviews) with GES community members and partners to understand impacts of current programs and future opportunities.
• Develop relationships with community food system partners in Denver, with a particular focus on GES.
• Support organizing and logistics for community food system events, including recruiting participants and contributing to evaluation.
• Contribute to write-ups for academic publication as well as internal and community-facing reports.
• Present findings at academic conferences.

Requirements

• Enrolled in good standing in a graduate program at Colorado State University (Sociology or related social science discipline preferred).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with community partners.
• Basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual, Spanish speaking.
• Coursework or experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis (e.g., NVivo, R).
• Experience or coursework in food systems, environmental justice, or related fields.
• Prior experience with community-engaged or participatory research.
• Familiarity with IRB protocols and human subjects research.

Schedule

Anticipated start date: August 6, 2026. Anticipated weekly hours: 5.