Liberal Arts & Sciences Education and Societal Impact Research Assistantship

Description, Responsibilities, and Qualifications

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) is committed to creating innovative educational experiences that make a visible and significant societal impact in our college and external communities. The LAS Education and Societal Impact Research Assistantship will support the LAS Academy for Educational Excellence and the Office of Public Engagement by contributing to program metric and data strategies in these priority areas. 

LAS ACADEMY FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE 

The LAS Academy for Educational Excellence is in its initial stages of development with a launch of Fall 2025. This Academy will be a space for faculty and instructional staff, including graduate teaching assistants, to develop teaching knowledge and expertise and share teaching excellence and innovation. 

LAS OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT 

The LAS Office of Public Engagement aims to foster trusting and long-term collaborative community and campus partnerships that guide university resources and activities towards mutually beneficial outcomes for all of society. Learn more about the Office of Public Engagement. 

LAS EDUCATION AND SOCIETAL IMPACT RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP 

This position works with the LAS Fellow for Educational Excellence and Director of Public Engagement, who are developing and coordinating initiatives in these areas. The research assistant will support in several areas, including but not limited to the following: 

• Developing, implementing, and analyzing data and metrics to measure program impacts. 
• Supporting program operations, including facilitating events, updating websites and WebTools with news, events, contact lists.
• Networking in the LAS community to promote teaching excellence and public engagement. 

Required qualifications include the following: 

• Experience as a Teaching Assistant at University of Illinois with evidence of dedication to teaching development.
• Experience working with diverse populations, community service, or public engagement programs. Experience can include teaching (all levels), community volunteering, faith-based service, student organization leadership/activities, or mentoring.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

Preferred qualifications include the following: 

• Evidence of teaching excellence.
• Experience or knowledge of data curation, databases, data cleaning, text/data mining, or similar.
• Flexible, on-campus schedule to allow for attending in-person program events and meetings.
• Academic unit or graduate appointment experience in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.