Research Assistant Jobs in Minnesota

INTRODUCTION

The RAIDS Project seeks up to three Step Up research assistants to help document the dynamics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the communities impacted by enforcement. As members of the RAIDS Team, research assistants will independently gather primary data and complete essential data management tasks, including data cleaning, verification, and coding. Data collection involves systematically reviewing and coding publicly available news media reports to identify and triangulate key details of immigration enforcement actions, including timing, location, and scope of raids.

This position offers hands-on training in applied social science research and is especially well suited for students interested in public policy, sociology, crimmigration, political science, data science, or related fields. Beyond a shared core of data coding, research assistants are matched to additional research tasks based on their interests and strengths—ranging from qualitative interview analysis and legal and policy review to science communication and course development. It is an excellent fit for students seeking structured, entry-level research experience with room to build a broad set of applied skills. No prior data handling or research experience is required; training will be provided.

Research assistants work alongside Principal Investigator Dr. Tatiana Padilla and project collaborators including Professor Chris Uggen and Research Directors Mimi and Nayeli Quiles, who lead training and provide guidance on coding protocols and quality standards.

RESEARCH TASKS

All research assistants contribute to the project’s core dataset by coding reports of immigration enforcement activity drawn from media, legal, and administrative sources, with full training provided on the first day of the internship. Beyond this shared foundation, assistants rank their preferences across the tasks below and are matched to those that best fit their interests and skills:

• Immigration raid report coding. Reviewing source documents and applying a structured coding scheme to capture the key details of each enforcement event—the shared core that anchors the dataset.
• Qualitative interview coding. Cleaning interview transcripts, applying a coding framework to identify key themes, and flagging compelling quotes from a study of international students’ experiences with recent immigration enforcement.
• Sanctuary policy and law review. Conducting a systematic review of sanctuary policies across U.S. jurisdictions—identifying enactment dates, end dates, and key provisions—and auditing AI-generated policy codings for accuracy.
• Social media strategy and content creation. Developing and executing a social media strategy that translates ongoing research into accessible content for a broad public audience, at roughly one to two posts per week.
• Academic conference presentation design. Translating research findings into a visually compelling, scholarly slide deck for an August academic conference.
• Crimmigration course development. Supporting the creation of an original course on crimmigration, from identifying scholarly readings and mapping key themes to assisting with the recording and editing of lecture content.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be enrolled participants in the Step Up Achieve Summer Program
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently
• Highly motivated and self-directed
• Ability to search for, read, and critically assess online sources
• Ability to discern, extract, and verify relevant information from news media and public reports

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Interest in pursuing graduate-level research in the social sciences
• Second language skills, beyond English
• Writing, communication, or design skills, which are an asset for certain project tasks

DURATION OF APPOINTMENT

June - August 2026

HOURLY PAY

$16.51

SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS

20 hours per week. This position requires in-person attendance on Mondays 9:30-5:30, plus an additional 8-hour work day and one 4-hour work day. Synchronous and asynchronous, remote with option to work in person.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

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Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

LOCATION

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.