Undergraduate Research Assistant (Work-study)

Undergraduate Research Assistant (Work-study)

Hiring Department: Department of Human Development and Family Sciences

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 19

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: May 16, 2026

Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Aug 15, 2026

Location: UT Main Campus

Job Details: The Jacobvitz Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at UT Austin is looking for an undergraduate research assistant to conduct research administrative work related to child and family relationships.

The research assistant will work under the supervision of the project manager to assist with handling and converting sensitive research data and files into digital records (e.g. VHS tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs and paper documents) as well as assisting with ethically disposing of obsolete media once data is successfully transferred. This position will require light physical labor, and shifts will be a set time each week that will be arranged between the student and project manager. Responsibilities include editing, labeling and converting VHS videos to DVDs and then uploading the DVDs to UTBOX; converting audiotaped interviews to CDs and using YouTube to convert the CDs to MP4 video files to produce transcriptions. Checking audio and original media to ensure transfer was done correctly.

Pay is $15/hour or more depending on qualifications, 10-19 hours per week.

Hiring Requirements:

• A 3-month commitment (summer semester)
• A minimum GPA of 3.0
• On-campus work

Responsibilities:

• Scan paper documents to create digital records
• Check conversions of videos and cassette tapes to ensure the data was transferred accurately
• Create systems to organize materials on hard drives and UT box folders

Required skills:

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, willingness to check and recheck documents as needed
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Familiarity with converting files to MP4 and YouTube or interest in learning how to use these technologies. Familiar with video, audio and digital media.

Application materials:

• Transcript or academic summary
• Resume

This position is ideal for students from any major who are interested in learning about the process of conducting social science research and/or developing skills for graduate or professional school (e.g., PhD in Psychology, Medical School). No previous research experience is required, but students must be organized, responsible, mature, and able to demonstrate success in their coursework.

Career Competencies Gained:

• Leverage existing digital technologies ethically and efficiently to solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals
• Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits, e.g., punctuality, working productively with others, and time workload management