Nonduke Student

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

  At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As a Student Research Assistant, you'll contribute to meaningful research that explores representation in American politics and helps advance our understanding of how citizens and elected officials interact. Working alongside faculty researchers, you'll support a large-scale field experiment while gaining hands-on experience with research methods, data collection, and the practical application of social science research. Your attention to detail, commitment to accuracy, and curiosity about political representation will help drive important scholarly work that has real-world relevance.

Be Bold.

Join a research team led by Professor Allison Anoll as we investigate how legislators respond to requests for information from constituents. This study examines whether characteristics of individuals seeking assistance influence legislative responsiveness and explores how representation functions across the United States. In this role, you'll help execute a rigorous field experiment by managing study communications, tracking responses, and coding research data used to better understand representation and potential disparities in democratic processes.

What You'll Do

• Create and manage email accounts used for the research study.
• Prepare and organize outgoing emails using assigned randomized content and formatting.
• Send study communications to legislators nationwide according to an established research schedule.
• Monitor and track incoming responses from elected officials and their offices.
• Code, categorize, and document responses using standardized research protocols.
• Complete required Institutional Review Board (IRB) training related to ethical human-subjects research.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with all study procedures and research guidelines.
• Contribute to a collaborative research environment focused on data quality and methodological rigor.

What You'll Bring

  Required Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow research protocols precisely.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks accurately.
• Ability to work carefully with multiple email accounts, templates, and randomized study materials.
• Reliability, professionalism, and commitment to maintaining data integrity.
• Ability to complete assignments consistently and independently.
• Willingness to complete required training in the ethical conduct of human-subjects research.

  Preferred Attributes

• Interest in political science, public policy, government, sociology, or social science research.
• Curiosity about political representation, civic engagement, and democratic institutions.
• Experience working with data collection, coding, or research projects is beneficial but not required.

What You'll Learn

This position offers valuable opportunities to:

• Gain experience implementing real-world field experiments.
• Develop skills in data collection, coding, and research methodology.
• Learn how social scientists study political behavior and legislative responsiveness.
• Build familiarity with ethical research practices involving human subjects.
• Contribute to research that advances understanding of political representation in the United States.

Choose Duke.

At Duke, students are more than assistants. They are collaborators, innovators, and contributors to impactful research that addresses important societal questions. You'll gain practical research experience while working alongside faculty who are committed to discovery, mentorship, and academic excellence.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply now and help advance research that deepens our understanding of representation, public service, and democracy.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $0.00 to USD $0.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond thedollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).