Faculty Development Graduate Research Assistant - Wick (Spring '25 C91360)

As a Faculty Development Graduate Research Assistant under Professor David Wick, you will engage in a range of responsibilities designed to further our understanding of education abroad. You'll review literature closely related to the project and co-author a literature review, co-design research methods, and pilot design interview questions. Your role also involves facilitating outreach and scheduling for interviews, conducting Zoom interviews with relevant participants, documenting findings, and collaborating on data analysis to prepare presentations and publications.

To be successful as a Faculty Development Graduate Research Assistant, you'll need a strong blend of skills. Intercultural and interpersonal abilities are crucial for effective correspondence and interviews, as is the capacity for prioritizing and organizing your workload. Attention to detail and record-keeping abilities will also serve you well. Additionally, excellent writing and analytical skills are essential to document and analyze data and contribute to scholarly articles and presentations.

All students with an active enrollment status for the semester are eligible to apply for the Graduate Research Assistant position at Wick, provided they aren’t on leave or withdrawn. Compliance with Institute policies is necessary, particularly regarding visa restrictions for international students, who may need work authorization to engage in off-campus employment. Additionally, you must adhere to hour limitations, as student employees can typically work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year.

In the role of Faculty Development Graduate Research Assistant, you'll focus on advancing equity and justice through your research on education abroad. By understanding and documenting the impacts that these programs have on host communities, you will contribute to the development of best practices that promote inclusivity and fairness in global learning experiences. Your insights will help build a more just framework within which education abroad operates.

The Faculty Development Graduate Research Assistant can enhance intercultural learning experiences by actively engaging with both faculty and study abroad participants. By conducting interviews and collecting qualitative data, you will identify and advocate for methods that improve these experiences. Your research findings can lead to recommendations that foster a deeper understanding of cross-cultural dynamics and support meaningful relationships between students and host communities.

When answering this question, emphasize your experience in designing interview questions, facilitating conversations, and your comfort level with remote technologies like Zoom. Be sure to include any specific examples that showcase your ability to create a welcoming environment that encourages honest sharing from interviewees.

Discuss specific methodologies that emphasize inclusive and equitable practices in research. Mention how you plan to engage with diverse populations and analyze data through an equity lens to ensure that your findings reflect various perspectives and experiences.

Describe your process for assessing deadlines and the importance of each task. Share techniques such as making to-do lists, using project management tools, or having regular check-ins with your research team to stay organized and on track.

Highlight key topics and authors in the field of education abroad, specifically those focusing on host community impacts and intercultural learning. Show that you are well-read in current literature and capable of synthesizing this information into your own research project.

Offer insight into how effective intercultural communication can foster understanding and collaboration between students and host communities. Talk about the importance of building relationships and mutual respect within diverse contexts.

Discuss your ability to listen actively, mediate, and find common ground among differing viewpoints. Stress the importance of respectfully acknowledging various perspectives while staying focused on your research objectives.

Share your insights on prevalent issues such as access to programs for underrepresented students, cultural misunderstandings, or the impact of global events like pandemics on studying abroad. You could also discuss how these challenges might inform your research.

Refer to specific experiences where you have presented research, whether in formal settings like conferences or informal gatherings. Emphasize how you tailor your approach based on the audience and leave them with a clear understanding of your findings.

Outline any qualitative and quantitative analysis tools you have used, such as coding software for interviews or statistical methods for surveys. Show your familiarity with different analysis frameworks that align with the objectives of the Faculty Development Graduate Research Assistant position.

Articulate your specific interest in Professor Wick's work and how it aligns with your academic goals. Highlight any relevant research interests or projects that you wish to explore, emphasizing how this experience will contribute to your personal and professional growth.