Research Assistant – Transcription Cleanup & Translation (German and/or Turkish)

Dr. Sebnem Gumuscu (Principal Investigator) with assistance from Dr. Natalie Chwalisz (Co-Principal Investigator) are seeking a Research Assistant to support a collaborative research project on the voting behavior of the Turkish German diaspora.

The RA will assist with transcription cleanup and translation of interview data in either Turkish or German, depending on language proficiency. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to a rigorous and ethically grounded research process.

This position is compensated at the Level B rate on the Midd student wage scale: $14.43 - $14.86 per hour.

Core Responsibilities:

• Clean and format interview transcripts for clarity and consistency.

• Translate interview excerpts from Turkish or German into English, ensuring accuracy and cultural nuance.

• Follow the project’s Data Management Plan, including secure data handling, file naming conventions, and version control.

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with all IRB-approved protocols for human subject research.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to ethical research practices.

• Proficiency in Turkish and/or German.

• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Completion of human subjects’ research training (e.g., CITI Program or equivalent).

• Experience with transcription and/or translation, preferably in a research context.

• Familiarity with qualitative research methods.

• Experience using Dropbox, Google Drive, and NVivo (or willingness to learn).

Supervision:

• Turkish-language work will be supervised by Dr. Sebnem Gumuscu.

• German-language work will be supervised by Dr. Natalie Chwalisz.

Position Details:

• Part-time, flexible hours.

• Remote work possible.

Student Employment Eligibility:

Unless restricted by certain visa status, all students with an active status for the semester are eligible for jobs on campus.

Students on leave or withdrawn are not eligible to work in student employment positions until the semester in which they return. If you are currently withdrawn or on leave you are eligible to be employed in staff positions.

Some may be restricted due to financial aid status. International students (non-resident aliens) may not work off campus unless they have applied for and received work authorization from the United States government. (An F-1 visa does not give work authorization.) Off campus work study positions are available only to U.S. citizens on financial aid with a federal work study component.

Student are not eligible to work remotely from International locations.

Hour Limitations:

All student employees are limited to working no more than 20 hours per week in on campus jobs during the academic year (this includes exam periods). The only exception is when there is a full week when school is not in session. Specifically: February recess, Spring recess, and full weeks of December or summer recess. During these time periods only, students can work up to 40 hours per week. International Students: Visa restrictions prohibit international students from exceeding 20 hours of work per academic calendar week.