Center for Regional Food Systems

The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems Farm to Institution Team is seeking a graduate level research
assistant to support data management for the Michigan Farm to Institution Network (MFIN) and
Cultivate Michigan, a campaign to support the purchasing and serving of Michigan-grown foods in
institutions. The research assistant will work up to 10 hours per week at $25-$30 an hour. The ideal
candidate will be available to start remote or in-person work starting in the 2025 Spring Semester from
January through May, with possible opportunities to extend work as funding allows.

Duties:

• Assist with data activities, including but not limited to, exporting and compiling data into
  spreadsheets, cleaning data files, analyzing data through Excel or other data software
• Assist with interviews among MFIN and Cultivate Michigan members, and cleaning survey and
  interview transcript data
• Assist with synthesizing findings, basic data visualizations, and writing reports (ex. Cultivate
  Michigan 2018 Data Brief)
• Attend weekly project management meetings with a supervisor

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a degree program, MA/MS or PhD candidates preferred
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Excellent written/oral/digital communication skills
• Experience and confidence using Zoom, Microsoft and Google tools, Slack, and Qualtrics (preferred)
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative data (collection, prep and analysis) (preferred)
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work under deadlines
• Ability to work on a team and with minimal supervision
• Ability to promptly read and respond to emails

How to Apply:

• Submit a one-page cover letter indicating your qualifications and interest in the position
• Submit a 1-2 page resume
• Provide 1-2 writing samples demonstrating experience with data collection and/or interpretation
  (e.g. lab or research report, detailed data assignment)
• Provide the names and contact information for two references

Applications due by November 6, 2024 through Handshake, Posting #9382345. Interviews will shortly follow this deadline.

Please contact Megan McManus, mcmanu60@msu.edu with any questions.